Flood warning determined to succeed
Monday, 18th Jun 2018“It has just got to the stage where, you know what, just let me go and play and enjoy my football. That is what Dunfermline Athletic will let me do.”
Willo Flood was pleased to return from holiday to sign at Dunfermline for season 2018-2019. He told the media on putting pen to paper:-
“Before I went away the manager phoned me to ask if I would be interested in coming to play here. I thought about it and fancied it.”
There were other offers from down south, abroad and from nearer home but given his family home is in the East of Scotland he felt that Dunfermline was the right move.
“The manager has come in and he has done a good job since he has been at the club. He wants to progress and he has made some decent signings so the pressure will be on Dundee United because obviously they are splashing the cash.
“It is a club that I have admired over the last couple of years and I wasn’t ready to chuck playing. I have spoken to people in the game like Derek McInnes who said just go and enjoy your football because you are a long time retired.”
Willo made 38 appearances for Dundee United last season including six against Dunfermline and the 33 year old Irishman didn’t think that the time was right to hang his boots up.
“I have always said that I will play as long as I can and coaching after football can take care of itself.”
Manager Allan Johnston was delighted with his signing especially since he is a player who has always stood out as an opponent.
“He has always been one of United’s better players. You can see that he still has the drive and determination to do well.
“He is a leader. We have a lot of young players in the squad and I think that somebody who has played at the level that he has and the experience that he has got will be invaluable.
“The average age of the squad has come away down, we are a young team and we need somebody who has been there and done it because sometimes it doesn’t go smoothly. You need that wee bit of experience or guidance on the park sometimes for some of the younger players just to learn what it takes to play at the top.”
AJ knows from his own personal experience that before hanging up your boots all players want to finish on a high.
“You go into every game wanting to do well. You get that vibe from speaking to Willo and I’m sure that he will fit into the way that we want to play as well.”
Willo’s Dundee United career ended with a red card in the first leg of the play off match last season against Livingston at Tannadice. Bizarrely his first red card in senior football was in his debut for United in a 1-0 win over Aberdeen. He confirmed:-
“I have only been sent off twice on my career but I think it was the pressure of the whole situation. We got so close yet so far, and it just seemed that the frustration got to me.
“It was a game that we were well in control of but gave away bad goals with bad mistakes, that got to me in the end.
The incident 3-2 down three minutes from full time did demonstrate how passionate the Dubliner is about his football, he continued:-
“I love football and I want my team to win whether it is five a side in training or be it on a Saturday. I go and watch my young fella’s football every Sunday and everyone was telling me how the team should be playing, who should be playing, who should be manager and this and that.
“It has just got to the stage where, you know what, just let me go and play and enjoy my football. That is what Dunfermline Athletic will let me do.”
Allan Johnston feels that Willo fulfils the need for a midfielder who is not afraid to fall out with people.
“Sometimes nowadays people are too nice and just want to be pals. You cannot always expect it to come from us on the sidelines all the time. It has to come from on the park as well because we all want to be successful. You have to get the best out of people.”
Willo who started his senior career off under Kevin Keegan at Manchester City, feels that he is a good footballer and that he can bring his enthusiasm for the game to East End Park:-
“I want Dunfermline to be challenging to go and win the league. I demand standards every day in training and let’s hope we get results on a Saturday.”
After over 200 starts for the Tangerines, Willo admits that United is a club that is close to his heart. The Pars open their Ladbrokes Championship challenge away to the Dundee side on 4 August and if they are to be successful then they need to discover a way past Csaba László’s men. His household might be split however:-
“I live in the area, my little fella is a Dundee United fan but I am here to do a job for Dunfermline, that is all I need to concentrate on. I have told him that he is getting a Dunfermline jersey and that is it. I hope to help get the club get promoted and let’s meet the challenge head on.
“I have never felt so determined to show people what I am all about. I think this is the club for me and I think with the manager, staff, players that we have and the players that he is going to bring in, this is the club for me to come and express myself.
“People will feel pressure at Dundee United because it is a club that demands being in the SPL. If they start well they will be up there, if they hit a bumpy road with a few bad results then I’m sure that they will feel the pressure.”
Allan Johnston is still seeking to bring in three or four players. He claims to be getting closer to concluding deals and expects another signing this week. He finished:-
“We definitely need strikers, it is a department that we are obviously looking at but everybody wants strikers. We are working hard in the background so hopefully we can get there.”
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