BIRMINGHAM (DF) - Reports emerging from the West Midlands suggest Roberto Di Matteo was sacked by West Bromwich Albion for attempting to buy at least 29 strikers during the January transfer window.
Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace took the unusual step of sacking the former Italian international midfielder earlier this month, less than a year after he led them back to the Premier League. It was initially thought Peace made the decision because he had confused his club with a midtable side, but it now appears he was acting to save his club from an act of football experimentation.
"He was too flamboyant," remarked Peace during a recent interview. "We had a good relationship apart from his flamboyance."
West Brom's sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth confirmed the amount of striker bids in a statement on the club's official website. "We actually made bids on 29 strikers in January to take on loan. I can't really believe it either."
When asked for further comment from the club, a West Brom spokeswoman failed to sufficiently elaborate and refused to confirm the excess strikers were the sole reason Di Matteo was let go. "Roberto left for footballing reasons. We appreciate his tireless work during the transfer window this past January. What we tried was unprecedented and it didn't work out."
A League Managers Association spokesman, speaking on behalf of Di Matteo, had a different opinion. "What Roberto did isn't without precedence. It would have worked out. A lot of managers have used the 0-10 formation successfully in the past. They play strikers out of position all the time. Roberto wanted to bring an all-out-attack mentality to West Brom, and, unfortunately, the powers that be wouldn't let that happen."
Last week, the Baggies appointed ex-Liverpool manager and perennial anti-attacker Roy Hodgson as Di Matteo's successor.
"We're surprised and lucky to have him," said Ashworth of Hodgson. "He fits our vision of the anti-football perfectly."
