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Bitter words as Gills exit FA Cup

GROUNDED: Andy Hessenthaler in the thick of the action in Tuesday's replay. Picture: GRANT FALVEY
GROUNDED: Andy Hessenthaler in the thick of the action in Tuesday's replay. Picture: GRANT FALVEY

GILLINGHAM boss Andy Hessenthaler had some strong words to say at the end of the Kent club's FA Cup defeat at the hands of Leeds - all of them directed at Terry Venables.

Hot on the heels of Paul Scally’s pre-match attack on under-fire Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale in a national newspaper, the Gills manager pulled no punches.

Venables, the former England coach, declined to shake the outstretched hands of Gillingham coaches Richard Hill and Wayne Jones following the club’s 2-1 defeat at Elland Road.

The war of words between the two clubs started last month when Venables blamed Hessenthaler for getting Mark Viduka sent-off at Priestfield. Hesssenthaler said: “It would just have been nice to shake Terry’s hand at the end of the game, although I don’t mind him not shaking my hand because I’m out on the pitch.

“But it would have been nice if he had shaken the hand of my two coaches, Richard (Hill) and Wayne (Jones) just to say ‘well done’ or whatever.

“The other boys did, he didn’t. But he’s been at Barcelona and some big clubs so perhaps he’s no need to do that - perhaps he is a little too big for us.”

Hessenthaler admitted bad feeling from the Priestfield clash had carried on over into the replay. He was booed by Leeds fans when the teams were announced and when the match started.

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