David Moyes warns Everton Olympians they will not get special treatment

David Moyes warns Everton Olympians they will not get special treatment

David Moyes has warned any of his players
intent on playing at the Olympics that they
will not receive preferential treatment when
returning to Everton.
A number of Everton’s squad have
received letters asking whether they will be
available to represent Team GB this summer
and Jack Rodwell has already posed for
publicity shots wearing the official strip.
But while he understands the lure of playing
at the tournament, which starts on July 25
and runs through to August 11, Moyes has
concerns.
Fair: David Moyes warned his players that
Everton is their employer
Fair: David Moyes warned his players
that Everton is their employer
Everton’s manager is uncomfortable with
its proximity to the start of the 2012-13
Barclays Premier League season and the
impact it will have on those players who
wish to participate.
‘I am a bit worried about the whole
thing,’ said Moyes.
‘It’s a real difficult one. It would be hard
to say to players not to go but, in the same
breath, this (Everton) is their bread and
butter.
‘This is where they get paid. I think they
have to give that a bit of consideration. They
do need holidays and they can’t then be
asking for spare time off that doesn’t fit in
(with Everton’s schedule).
‘If they say "I’m playing in the
Olympics then I might need a week off to
recover", there can never be anything like
that.
Chance: Jack Rodwell could represent Great
Britain, here shown in the team's kit
Chance: Jack Rodwell could
represent Great Britain, here shown in
the team's kit
‘I think the players going to the Olympics
will have to consider their own holiday time
– it couldn’t eat into club time.’
Moyes has no plans to meet with Team GB
head coach Stuart Pearce to discuss his ideas,
as he says the ultimate responsibility lies
with the players over what their intentions
are.
‘We accept international tournaments,’
said Moyes. ‘We go on pre-season and we
don’t have a lot of the players because
they’re playing through the summer.
‘What we’re willing to do to those boys
is give them a bit of extra time off because
the players definitely need a holiday.
'I don’t know. Maybe other managers will
take a different stance.’