Town midfielder Sylvain Legwinski has slammed sacked Fulham boss Chris Coleman, claiming the Welshman should have been dismissed long ago. The Frenchman is highly critical of his former manager and reveals that he took legal action against his former club prior to joining the Blues last summer.
Legwinski, who was signed by former Fulham boss Jean Tigana in 2001, says Coleman took the Cottagers in the wrong direction: "The club have gone backwards under him. This season was the first where it could be truly called his team as there was no one left from the Jean Tigana era. They are doing badly and it is sad to see where they are now, but in truth Fulham were lucky not to be in the relegation zone the last two years and that's because of Coleman.”
Legwinski feels that Coleman's lax training regime is to blame for Fulham's current plight with the former Wales international failing to work the players sufficiently or understand the importance of tough pre-season preparations.
The former Monaco and Bordeaux midfielder was eventually frozen out by Coleman and was left to train on his own as the Cottagers boss sought to force him out of the club, despite Legwinski having a year remaining on his £13,000-a-week contract.
Eventually, the 33-year-old took legal action against the club for money owed, something he says he did reluctantly and which didn't go down well with his manager: "Last summer was the worst thing that could have happened to a footballer. I remember one day after I'd begun the legal proceedings when Chris and I approached the doorway at the training ground and he deliberately gave me no room and barged into me. It was not meant in a funny way and he was clearly upset with me.
"I had to call my lawyer to explain the situation because no one at the club was talking to me. I tried to set up meetings with Coleman but he didn't have the courage to tell me what was wrong to my face. It was very sad because the only communication with me and the club was through letters from our lawyers, which I couldn't believe after so many years of service.”
Legwinski, who is favourite to be named Town Player of the Year for 2006/07, feels he was treated unprofessionally and unfairly by his former club, but hopes they remain in the Premiership for the sake of the fans.
After his contract at Fulham was settled, Legwinski joined the Blues on trial and signed a two-year contract at the end of August.
Get the fastest and most comprehensive Ipswich Town news service at ipswichtown.footballlatest.co.uk.