Kieren Westwood has addressed rumours about him falling out with Sheffield Wednesday manager Garry Monk on Twitter. The Irish goalkeeper hasn’t played since Wednesday’s 2-1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion in November. Despite that, he insists he hasn’t fallen out with Monk.
Reports have suggested that Westwood has been training with the club’s U23s, alongside fellow experienced professional Sam Hutchinson. The former Sunderland stopper also seemed to confirm his departure from Hillsborough is imminent.
Kieren Westwood Says He Hasn’t Fallen Out With Garry Monk
‘We Shook Hands and Left on Good Terms’
In a statement posted on Twitter, the 35-year-old said: “The manager and I have not fallen out. We had a conversation man to man and it was fine. I’m very experienced to know that these things happen in football and it’s never anything personal. We had a good conversation, shook hands and left on good terms.
“There were no arguments or bad attitudes and definitely none of the rumours being branded about have occurred.
“The manager has made a decision, which I fully respect and I have done since the moment it was made.”
Kieren Westwood Waves Goodbye to the Fans
In the second part of the post, Westwood thanks the fans and the chairman in what looks like a farewell post.
“I will look back with great fondness and affection to the love that has been afforded to me by the club, Mr Chansiri and his family, and all the staff and my teammates.
“To the fans who rode that journey with me, the rapport and love I have felt I will never forget and cherish forever.”
Kieren Westwood Will Be Fondly Remembered
Westwood has been a fantastic servant for the club. After joining on a free transfer in 2014, he went onto win the club’s Player of the Year award twice. The former Republic of Ireland international also equalled Wednesday’s clean sheet record in two different seasons.
Most notably, he made the Championship’s PFA Team of the Year in 2015. Westwood was an indispensable member of the Owls squad who reached the play-offs twice in consecutive seasons.
Where Did it All Go Wrong?
The reasons behind Kieren Westwood being shunned out of the first-team picture remain unconfirmed. He was struggling for form in his most recent Wednesday appearances. After making a few notable mistakes, Monk decided to drop Westwood for the Birmingham City game in November. He hasn’t played since, and he’s only been included on the bench twice in that period.
However, the current number one, Cameron Dawson, is also going through a difficult spell of form himself. Many fans have wondered whether Monk would reinstate Westwood as the Owls’ number one, but this news appears to suggest he’s going to stick with the 24-year-old.
It’s an all too familiar feeling the ex-Coventry City man, who was frozen out in the first half of last season by manager Jos Luhukay. It appears that, like Luhukay, Monk wants to develop Dawson and perhaps his fellow 24-year-old Joe Wildsmith. If Westwood has played his last game in a Wednesday shirt, fans will remember him for being the best goalkeeper in their recent history.
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