The player reportedly set to join Sheffield United after his exit from Rangers was once involved in an infamous bust-up with the former Sheffield Wednesday and Celtic star Paolo Di Canio.
According to The Daily Mail, Sheffield United are close to finalising a deal for the goalkeeper Wes Foderingham, whose Rangers contract expired at the end of last month.
Di Canio was Foderingham’s Swindon Town manager when the now 29-year-old made a mistake from which Akpo Sodje – another ex-Sheffield Wednesday striker – scored for Preston North End.
After conceding again shortly afterwards, Foderingham was replaced by his fuming boss just 21 minutes in.
The Londoner – who was in his first full season as a Football League player – failed to take it well, kicking a water bottle and storming down the tunnel, where – by his own admission – he removed a door from its hinges.
Speaking after the game, Di Canio referred to Foderingham as ‘League One Wes’ and said, via The Guardian: “He was one of the worst players I have ever seen. He’s another player like the others, why can’t we change the goalkeeper? Because the goalkeeper has a different coloured shirt?
“What he did was not only the mistake, which can happen to anyone, but the arrogance when he started moaning to the other players – that was the worst thing for me.
“A player that doesn’t recognise his mistakes which were clear from miles away, he started moaning to his team-mates. Out there he behaved as the worst professional, arrogant, ignorant athlete I have ever seen.”
Foderingham was also warned that if he failed to apologise – and do so sincerely – ‘he is out (of Swindon)’.
But, ultimately, the prospective Blades recruit did what was asked of him and actually outlasted Di Canio by more than two years after the Italian was lured to Sunderland six months later.
A move to Rangers followed for Foderingham, where he stayed for five years – and for all but two of which as number one. But he is expected to join Sheffield United as competition for the Blades’ existing ‘keepers – Michel Verrips, Simon Moore and, hopefully, Dean Henderson.
Asked about the Di Canio incident upon his arrival at Ibrox, Foderingham told The Daily Record. “At the time, it was tough to take.
“When you make a mistake, you are angry and the reaction
probably comes more from the mistake. That would have been the first situation where I had been in that environment, I had made such a mistake and everyone was shouting at me.
“It was an accumulation of emotions and things happen. I took the hinges off the door on the way down the tunnel.
“The initial part was anger but I realised later that what I had done was not acceptable and these things happen.
“I’ve seen the YouTube clip too many times and I got flak from the manager afterwards but I’m sure if you spoke to Paolo now he wouldn’t say the same things.
“We all say things in the heat of the moment and I’m aware of the relationship we had. From the outside looking in, you might believe that’s what he really thinks but deep down it’s not like that.
“Paolo was a good guy to work for. Everyone knows about his mentality. It’s his way or the high way but his ideas and coaching are top class.
“Paolo is a good man and he is a good coach.
“Everyone knows he has his other side and is a fiery character, which makes for good
entertainment for the media.
“He does things based on emotion. I sat down with him the next day and had a conversation.
“And a lot of what he said was misinterpreted, although I’m sure he would say that!
“But we had a good discussion, we shook hands and I played the next game a couple of days later against Oxford. Is it difficult to let bygones be bygones? It is.
“I was upset at the time but when you sit down and talk, you can’t let things dwell.
“He was the manager and I was the player and the player is never right. We sat man-to-man, shook hands and got on with it.
“I learned a lot under him. He is obviously someone who has played at a very high level and he brought that to the training pitch.”
Foderingham continued: “It happens, it’s one of these things.
“I’m an emotional guy and I wouldn’t like to look back and say it was a mistake. It’s character building and these things help you develop your game.
“If you are not put into those situations, you don’t know how you are going to react to them.
“It’s better you get them out the way early in your career.”
And with the non-nonsense Chris Wilder looking like his likely next boss, Foderingham will certainly hope that’s the case.
Sheffield United fans – what do you make of reports you’re getting the former Rangers goalie?
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