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Home / Hawkes Bay Today

Football: Fans take to Twitter to accuse Angell of cheating

By Anendra Singh
Hawkes Bay Today·
25 Jan, 2017 04:00 PM5 mins to read

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Bay United coach Brett Angell's colourful language has drawn the ire of fans on Twitter demanding NZ Football come down hard on him. PHOTO/FILE

Bay United coach Brett Angell's colourful language has drawn the ire of fans on Twitter demanding NZ Football come down hard on him. PHOTO/FILE

The sending off of Hawke's Bay United coach Brett Angell has ignited a social media frenzy as football faithful waded into a debate over his perceived errant behaviour in Wellington at the weekend.

The passionate exchanges on Twitter have drawn rhetoric from media commentators, former Wellington Phoenix player Paul Ifill as well as the Thirsty Whale-sponsored Bay franchise team's own players this week.

Stirling Sports Premiership fans are accusing the Englishman of cheating and habitually dropping the "F-bomb" at David Farrington Park, Wellington, after the 3-all stalemate against hosts Team Wellington on Sunday.

Spectators at the ground have taken photos via cellphones as evidence to show Angell, leaning against the entranceway to the changing rooms, holding up a piece of white paper and engaging in a discussion with a member of his team.

Twittered Brandon Clark @kiwibardy with complete footage: "And passing notes to subs to take to the bench too #SSPremiership #TWvHB."

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Tracey @iluvnix17 twittered: "Just saw Angell hand a piece of paper to substitute to take to bench again."

Patrick Barnes @patrick478 chimed in with: "@HawkesBayUnited must be so proud of their cheat of a coach.

"Seriously @NZFootball, if this doesn't result in a long ban you're doing your job wrong," says Barnes.

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He says it's a shame people such as Angell think they are above the game.

"He's not that good of a coach [sic]. The NZ fascination with appointing British coaches is probably the reason why he has a job.

"Not saying all English coaches are poor in general but they do seem over-represented in football in this country," says Barnes, adding he wouldn't like to see Angell back for the rest of the season.

NZ Football said yesterday the head of competitions, Daniel Farrow, was anticipating making a decision on the report from referee Campbell Kirk-Waugh sometime today via a statement.

Bay United general manager operations Shane McKenzie has declined to comment on the matter until an NZ Football verdict is reached.

"I have been in correspondence with Daniel Farrow and once it's done with New Zealand Football then we'll be in a position to comment," says McKenzie.

However, Angell's former Bay United assistant coach, Ifill, says he isn't condoning Angell's behaviour but his coaching credentials shouldn't be questioned.

"He's a top coach," says the former Phoenix striker who now plays for Tasman United.

Radio Sports commentator Jason Pine accused Angell of "throwing your team under the bus. Needs a reality check".

In a post-match interview with Hawke's Bay Today, Bay captain Finlay Milne said: "Everyone knows what Brett's like. He's vocal but some of the referees, I think, aren't mature enough to handle that so that's a real shame for us."

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The centreback from Palmerston North said referee Waugh had threatened to abandon the game and award Team Wellington three points when Angell was caught communicating again and play was held up until he was removed from near the substitutes' bench.

Milne said with assistant coach Jamie Dunning left home because of travel costs, Angell had to be approached for subs' list on a piece of paper kept in his pocket.

However, Pine says on Twitter: "I'm sorry Finlay Milne; you strike me as a pretty sensible bloke but this doesn't do you any favours. We all know the rules ..."

Bay goalkeeper Joshua Hill says Angell "is not abusive but [it'] understandable when the amount [sic] of match-affecting decisions have been given against us this season".

"The ref done nothing about Ben Harris threatening to break fin milnes legs right in front of the ref??" Hill Twitters on the English-born striker.

Sideline photographer Cameron McIntosh, of NZ Photomac, says the coach's language was appalling.

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"I don't mind a curse but this was above and beyond," says McIntosh, echoing sentiments of other Twitter subscribers on whether he was aware of children at the park, not to mention ball boys and girls on the sidelines.

"Angell abused the referee and swarn [sic] like a sailor. He deserved to be sent off," he says, highlighting the need for stiffer punishment to eradicate "disgusting" behaviour.

Clark says the coach was "averaging six F-bombs a minute for three minutes" targeted at the ref, his assistant and the fourth official, leading up to his marching orders.

The Bay host their round 13 encounter against Tasman United at Memorial Park, Palmerston North, this Sunday in a 1pm kick off with Dunning assuming the mantle of coach.

Last summer, Angell found himself in a similar predicament at Park Island, Napier, when fourth official Anthony O'Riley and referee John Rowbury relegated him to the stands in a match against Wanderers Soccer Club (Hamilton).

The coach had expressed bewilderment, insisting he was merely pointing out the ref's inconsistencies on the park and hadn't resorted to abusive language or any other offence to warrant a sending off.

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