Lynn: Michael was never aware of payments that were offered or anything by other clubs. With West Ham we never discussed any money or anything. He just loved West Ham.


Later on, we did say to West Ham ‘other places are offering things.’ And they said that at that age, it can be good, it can work out and they had offered in the past, but they didn’t for Michael. They said, ‘We really think he’s a good footballer.’ But he was a bit small and skinny. Because he’s one of the younger ones because his birthday’s end of July at the end of the school year. You know his ability with a football wasn’t doubted. But coming through they’re not too sure. So they weren’t 100% at offering him something.


Michael: I think it was hard on them because they didn’t know if they were doing the right thing. They would have been questioning whether they should have been more pushy and at West Ham when you go and you sign for 2 year schoolboy and then you hear rumours people are signing for 4/5 year contracts and they’re thinking, ‘Hang on a minute are we being too soft, a bit too easy, is Michael not getting what he deserves?’ That must have been a big thing for them, because you hear of people leaving school, getting a 2 year pro, getting this paid for, that paid for.


Graeme: I went to West Ham on a 2 year scholarship, the most basic you could get really, same with you and they must be thinking, ‘Have we done the right thing for them? Are we strong enough or not?’ There’s a constant questioning whether it’s a natural thing or not. If it was my son I’d be the same.


Michael: I knew they were happy for me to go there but whether or not that made me happier to go there I don’t know. It’s hard to know. I think if there was something really wrong they would have stepped in and said, ‘I don’t think you should go there.’ But there was…all the clubs I went to there was none of them they really said that, not that I can remember


Graeme: They never said to me you should go there and shouldn’t go there.


Michael: No they never said that to me, they just pointed out things…I just knew they knew how I felt.


18


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