Clough toughs out his stand

Jun 14 2009 by Ian Robson, Sunday Sun

BRIAN CLOUGH is back where he belongs.

Just don’t lean on him, please, or you could cause another leg injury.

Word reaches me from Middlesbrough that ol’ big head’s statue has been repaired.

It’s the bronze one erected in Albert Park to commemorate the late great star.

Just two years after it was unveiled the statue needed £20,000 in repairs.

Apparently fans were leaning on the leg.

The stress caused a hairline fracture which needed to be repaired before resulting in further damage.

So Brian got a bit of a makeover and was returned to pride of place in the town where he was born.

I wouldn’t say it was the best fix-up in the world but it’s certainly in the top one.

It’s great to have Brian, one of the most colourful and controversial managers in football history, back where he can be seen.

All that money seems a lot to spend in these days of looking after the pennies but that’s the price to pay for public art when the work is readily accessible.

In his life Brian said what he meant and meant what he said but was always there for his players and the fans to lean on.

He’s still doing it in his death.

It’s just a shame his return has not coincided with an upturn of fortunes for Middlesbrough.

The team may be in the Championship but Clough was a premier man.

We can only hope Brian, now he has a new leg, will be jumping up and down in football manager’s heaven cheering the side on in their first attempt to go back up.