Town boss Joe Royle is backing the England players' press boycott. The England squad are refusing to talk to the papers in the wake of harsh criticism after the draw in Austria on Saturday.

Royle said: "They have come to an agreement after criticism that they obviously felt was over the top. Why should they be turkeys supporting Christmas?

"There is no country in the world where press intrusion is so great as it is in England. When a team is losing you expect to be criticised, but when it happens after a draw away from home, which was followed by a win it can become too much.

"The players - certainly the senior ones who are no doubt leading the protest - are supporting the manager and their team-mates, but hopefully the stand-off will not last long.

"For 70 minutes against Austria, England played as well as they have for a long while, and they did OK again [in Poland]."

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