Henk Timmer angry about 'cowardly and mean' publications

Monday 15 December 2008

Henk Timmer is angry about the way the media have created an atmosphere with their publications about the presumed problems at Feyenoord.

"The fans have been lied to," Timmer told FCUpdate.nl.

Last week the two major Dutch newspapers, Telegraaf and Algemeen Dagblad, published screaming articles about the problems between coach Gertjan Verbeek and his players.

According to both newspapers one thing was clear: most players wanted Verbeek out.

On Friday captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst already called the news 'total rubbish'.

He had written down a statement that he read out to the gathered press in De Kuip.

After Saturday's lost game against AZ Feyenoord's keeper Henk Timmer went one step further: "I think it's cowardly and mean what has been written? The fans are being lied to. It's just not true at all."

"It's seems like every journalist and every pundit wants to know better," who surprised the most by the stories about coach Verbeek.

"I can guarantee you that there has been no vote. Honestly, why would I lie about something like that? So I do not understand where these articles come from."

"Just like it is not true that the players have complained about the hard work during training sessions. Rubbish. That is creating an atmosphere among our supporters. For I can see what a fan thinks when he reads that we don't want to train so hard. They will think we should work for our money. That's only natural. But we don't feel that we have to train too hard. What's even more: I have worked with Co Adriaanse. His training sessions were much tougher," Timmer said.

And that wasn't all Timmer had to say, as he was also annoyed by the reactions to Van Bronckhorst's statements.

Different people suggested that Feyenoord's skipper was only reading out a statement that had been written for him by Feyenoord's press secretary.

"In the newspapers Gio was portrayed as a schoolboy who had to read out a note. That's low. I was sitting besides him when he was writing his statement. He did it himself and doesn't need no press secretary for that. It was a statement he gave on behalf of the squad to underline that we are backing our coach 100%."

Timmer thinks there is only one way to get out of the negative curve they are in.

"We must remain calm. I just bumped into Dirk Scheringa, the AZ-chairman. They were in a similar situation a year ago. They remained calm and look where they are now. It should be an example for us."