Ally McCoist has told talkSPORT he ‘agrees with the sentiment’ behind Danny Rose’s rant against ‘Project Restart’, but says the defender was wrong to say he ‘doesn’t give a f***’ about the nation’s morale.
The Tottenham defender – currently on loan at Newcastle – issued a foul-mouthed rant against the Premier League’s plans to resume the 2019/20 season, which he branded a ‘f***king joke’ while there are people still dying from coronavirus.
Top-flight chiefs are proposing players to return to action in June, despite the continued COVID-19 lockdown on the UK.
And speaking on Instagram on Monday, Rose said: “It’s a f***ing joke, I’m not even going to lie.
“People’s lives are at risk. Football shouldn’t even be spoken about coming back until the numbers have dropped massively. It’s b*******.
“I’m sad that people are getting sick and being affected. Football should be the last of things that need to be sorted.
“The government is saying bring football back because it’s going to boost the nation’s morale, I don’t give a f*** about the nation’s morale.”
McCoist was asked for his take on Rose’s outburst on the talkSPORT Breakfast, and the Rangers legend sad while he agreed with his point, the way he delivered it was all wrong.
“I actually agree with his sentiment, in the respect that there is nothing more important than the fact people are losing their lives,” said the former Scotland striker.
“I agree with him in that respect, I just think he’s probably gone about it in the wrong way with his tone, language and by saying ‘I don’t give a blank for the morale of the nation’.
“When in fact the argument against him would be, when you look at all the NHS workers, the essential workers in supermarkets and pharmacies, all these people, we are duty bound to keep their morale up if at all possible.”
England cricket legend Freddie Flintoff also offered his verdict on Rose’s comments, and also said he agreed with his point that a return to playing is just ‘not worth it’ in the current climate.
“It would be easy to jump on the Danny Rose bandwagon and have a go at what he said,” he told talkSPORT Breakfast host Laura Woods.
“The argument with footballers is always that they’re overpaid, this, that and the other, but I think this is slightly different in that they’re being asked to go back to work while all this is going on.
“I don’t know about you, but when I leave the house and I’m walking down the street and I see someone walking or jogging towards me, I cross the road – that’s the type on mentality we’ve all got into.
“Now all of a sudden we’re talking about players going back to play football…
“I think the question he has is, is this all really worth it? Is this really necessary? And his opinion is, no.”