Nigel Pearson – A good-natured player prone to a PR disaster as coach

(Photo by Action Images)

By Chris Dunlavy

DURING his playing days at Sheffield Wednesday, Nigel Pearson played a practical joke on his famously dour manager Howard Wilkinson.

He drove to a pet shop, bought a goldfish, then deposited it in a water cooler by the gaffer’s desk.

When Sgt Wilko noticed – it is safe to presume the famously dour Yorkshireman didn’t laugh – he ordered the fish to be removed. Pearson waited until he’d left, then replaced the fish with a pile of shredded carrot. Cue mirth all round.

By all accounts, the stunt was typical of Pearson, a fearsome competitor but good-natured character. Ron Atkinson described him as the greatest skipper he’d ever worked with.

Yet, after his suspension by Derby – and almost certain dismissal – it is increasingly difficult to imagine the former centre-back as anything but a chippy, aggressive bully.

Pearson, 44, in charge at Pride Park for just 12 games, was ordered to pack his bags after a blazing row with owner Mel Morris, reportedly over the direction of the club.

Coming hot on the heels of his infamous ostrich rant at journalist Ian Baker, touchline fracas with Palace’s James McArthur and a confrontation with a Leicester supporter who was told to “f*** off and die”, the incident is another PR disaster for Pearson.

Those who know him insist a nice guy lurks there somewhere. “The way he looks on the TV and the impression he gives is totally different to the man I remember,” said Steve Vickers, Pearson’s centre-back partner at Middlesbrough.

“He was good fun in the dressing room. You’ll hear that from everyone who played with him. But I suppose you’ve got to have two heads as a manager – one for the players and another for the public.”

Problem is, that public head is pretty distasteful. The notion that Pearson is a nasty piece of work has stuck fast. He may be a good manager, a laugh behind closed doors. But I doubt many owners will be willing to take the risk after this bust-up.