Rodger Faces FA Summons

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 26/02/2003

TOWN assistant manager Graham Rodger has been summoned to face an FA disciplinary hearing at the end of March over an accusation of violent conduct made against him for an incident in the game against Stoke City at Blundell Park earlier this month.

Town's assistant boss was charged with an alleged act of violent conduct against City manager Tony Pulis in the match with Stoke at Blundell Park on February 8.

Match referee Clive Wilkes showed Rodger the red card on the advice of his fourth official after a touch line confrontation between the two men. Rodger has requested a personal hearing in order clear his name, but if found guilty could face a lengthy touchline ban.

"I'm flabbergasted by the claim and I'll do everything I can to clear my name," he told the Grimsby Telegraph.

"I don't want to be known as a loose cannon stood on the sideline. I'm passionate about football and I'm a frustrated ex-player - but I'm not a lunatic.

Rodger's case has the backing of two nearby police officers who witnessed it, as well as Stoke's Tony Pulis himself, who has no desire to see Rodger punished over the incident.

"It's different class for Tony Pulis to come out and back me and he wouldn't be doing that if there was anything in it. We've got no axes to grind with each other and it was nothing more than handbags.

"I'm going to request a personal hearing and I'm in the process of collecting information to support my case.

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