Gillingham boss Martin Allen keeps his thoughts to himself after Rotherham United boss Steve Evans goes public
by Luke Cawdell
Gills boss Martin Allen has refused to be sucked into a
public debate with his counterpart from Rotherham United.
The Gills
left Rotherham last weekend as 2-1 winners but beaten manager Steve
Evans - who last season had a spat with former Gills boss Andy
Hessenthaler - took issue with several incidents in the match.
One of Evans' main gripes was a clash between Gills striker Deon
Burton and his captain Ian Sharps, who suffered a broken nose.
Match official Andy Haines didn't issue Burton with a card,
although he did see the incident.
But Evans told his club's official website he was reporting the
matter to David Allison, the man in charge of Football League
officials.
The Rotherham boss said: "For me there was an elbow by Deon
Burton on Ian Sharps which should not have gone unpunished, and
there were a number of key incidents which didn't go in our
favour.
"The key incidents have been highlighted on Millers Player (the
club's video website). I said to my players that the official was a
good one before the game but for me he has had a bad
afternoon."
But in response to Evans sending off a DVD highlights package to
Mr Allison, the Gills boss (pictured above) said: "I can only
deal with what I can deal with and that's Gillingham Football Club,
our players and our supporters and our boss, Mr Scally.
"I don't think you will ever find me getting involved in all
that kind of stuff.
"We have got a code of conduct and a way of dealing with stuff
and we deal with our stuff internally and privately and in no way,
shape or form would we ever criticise or go public with any
criticism of any opposition and I think everyone could say we
conduct ourselves in the right way, wherever we go, on and off the
field."
And Burton, who accepted he unintentionally injured Sharps and
spoke to the player directly after the incident and following the
game, said: "That is as far away from the truth as there could ever
be as I would never intentionally try and hurt an opponent.
"I was leading with my arm, to try and get leverage against a
defender, but as far as I am concerned there is nothing in it."
11/12/12
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