Savage asks Wales fans to leave Bruce alone
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Your support makes all the difference.The Birmingham City midfielder Robbie Savage has criticised "childish" Wales fans who have launched a telephone campaign against his club manager, Steve Bruce.
Some supporters have targeted Bruce after the club versus country row involving Savage ahead of the Euro 2004 qualifier in Azerbaijan last week. City won a Fifa ruling which allowed Savage to play in the Premiership against Fulham three days before the game in Baku.
The Wales manager Mark Hughes had been hoping to invoke the four-day rule but this was rejected as the qualifier was taking place during a week designated for friendly internationals.
Savage was then unable to travel with his country after picking up a groin injury against Jean Tigana's side before he returned to action for his club in the 1-0 win on Saturday at Sunderland.
Welsh supporters were so incensed that they posted the phone numbers of Bruce and Savage on the internet and the Blues manager has received several calls in the middle of the night.
Savage warned that the targeting of Bruce could backfire on Wales. "If Steve Bruce keeps getting phone calls," he said, "the club might take stronger action and say that, if it keeps going on, they've got every right not to release me.
"To put both our telephone numbers on the internet is childish. At the end of the day, we're human beings and people have got to look at themselves.
"It's not Steve Bruce's fault, it's not my fault – it's nobody's fault. Steve Bruce has got to do what's right for Birmingham but the rule was that I was allowed to play for Wales. I knew I was injured for the Azerbaijan match. I was utterly disappointed that I couldn't play and Steve Bruce was as well."
Derby County have stepped up their fight for financial stability by releasing two more players. The Rams had confirmed that a number of their first-team squad would be leaving the club in the coming months, and manager John Gregory's options have been reduced with the departure of the former Scotland international Brian O'Neil and the youngster Fiachra McArdle.
O'Neil and his Scottish compatriot Craig Burley were rumoured to be top of the list of players in line to be paid off and, though Derby had previously denied any decision was imminent, O'Neil has now been told he can leave the club.
The 30-year-old was signed from the German club Wolfsburg two years ago as part of an exchange deal involving the defender Stefan Schnoor, but a number of injuries have prevented O'Neil from making an impact at Pride Park. He made just 11 appearances last season and has so far managed four during the current campaign, and Gregory has decided that the Scot is no longer part of his plans, with the club's substantial wage bill in need of a major reduction.
Derby have already agreed settlements with Horacio Carbonari and Bjorn Otto Bragstad which will see both players leave in January.
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