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Jim Jefferies' nagging can get me into Jamaica squad, says Kilmarnock star Simon Ford
Feb 4 2009 By Craig Swan
SIMON FORD last night admitted hardline boss Jim Jefferies almost nagged him out of Kilmarnock.
But the defender insists his gaffer can use his moaning to propel him into Jamaica's international plans.
Ford spoke as he collected the Homecoming Scottish Cup player of the fourth round award after netting two crucial goals to secure a replay win over Ayr and book Saturday's tie at Inverness.
The centre-back got a halftime stare from his unhappy manager for gifting Ayr a 1-0 lead but then responded perfectly. Now Ford reckons he's getting used to the rants.
Ford said: "The manager is hard on me but I think he does it for a reason.
"He knows what I am capable of but sees I have lapses in my game and that disappoints him.
"There are no hard feelings. No one likes getting shouted at and blamed but it is part and parcel of being a manager and a player.
"Sometimes it works for me. I can be angry with him and myself and it pushes me on. You can get more dominant but other times it can put you into a shell.
"If you are not performing the way you should, he has every right to have a go.
"I know I can switch off and I'm not as consistent as I should be. That disappoints him and me and we are on the same wavelength.
"He just shows me what I can be doing better and we sit and watch videos sometimes.
"I'm always looking to improve but the gaffer and Billy Brown were both defenders and that might make them more critical of guys in this position."
At one point last term, Ford reckoned he would have to quit Ayrshire and return to England.
He added: "I thought of leaving. I was 26 and felt I wanted to play. If I could go elsewhere and play, I would.
"There was a time I was sitting in the stands and I wasn't even playing reserve football.
"It was a case of training all week in the lead-up to nothing and I wasn't happy.
"I had nothing to look forward to at 3pm on a Saturday and I told the gaffer how I felt.
"He said he didn't want me to leave and I had to bide my time.
"Last summer I worked hard and got a fresh start and I'm glad because I didn't really want to leave.
"Everyone just wants to play football and I wanted afair chance.
"Staying here was not a problem and my family is settled. I don't see the point of going south to a lesser club and not thinking about moving."
Ford is now back in the spotlight and back in form and looking ahead to possible success abroad.
Having won a call-up for Jamaica last year, he's now hoping to impress new national coach John Barnes.
The former Celtic boss is in charge of the Reggae Boyz but Ford reckons he won't get any help as Mark Walters' cousin because his family member once kept Barnes out of the Liverpool side.
He said: "I got my call-up for Jamaica and I felt good.
"The old manager called me up for a look and I played a couple of games out there.
"There was a big shift after that when he didn't call up UK-based players and there was a big fuss.
"He got sacked and John Barnes has taken over.
"I don't know where John is based at the moment because he has only been in the job a month.
"It crossed my mind to call Mark but maybe that's not a good idea. Mark went to Liverpool and John didn't get a game.
"There is a friendly coming up soon and I'd love to get involved again but my first goal is to be consistent for Kilmarnock.
"Like I said, if you are doing well for your club, people will take notice."
Feb 4 2009 By Craig Swan
SIMON FORD last night admitted hardline boss Jim Jefferies almost nagged him out of Kilmarnock.
But the defender insists his gaffer can use his moaning to propel him into Jamaica's international plans.
Ford spoke as he collected the Homecoming Scottish Cup player of the fourth round award after netting two crucial goals to secure a replay win over Ayr and book Saturday's tie at Inverness.
The centre-back got a halftime stare from his unhappy manager for gifting Ayr a 1-0 lead but then responded perfectly. Now Ford reckons he's getting used to the rants.
Ford said: "The manager is hard on me but I think he does it for a reason.
"He knows what I am capable of but sees I have lapses in my game and that disappoints him.
"There are no hard feelings. No one likes getting shouted at and blamed but it is part and parcel of being a manager and a player.
"Sometimes it works for me. I can be angry with him and myself and it pushes me on. You can get more dominant but other times it can put you into a shell.
"If you are not performing the way you should, he has every right to have a go.
"I know I can switch off and I'm not as consistent as I should be. That disappoints him and me and we are on the same wavelength.
"He just shows me what I can be doing better and we sit and watch videos sometimes.
"I'm always looking to improve but the gaffer and Billy Brown were both defenders and that might make them more critical of guys in this position."
At one point last term, Ford reckoned he would have to quit Ayrshire and return to England.
He added: "I thought of leaving. I was 26 and felt I wanted to play. If I could go elsewhere and play, I would.
"There was a time I was sitting in the stands and I wasn't even playing reserve football.
"It was a case of training all week in the lead-up to nothing and I wasn't happy.
"I had nothing to look forward to at 3pm on a Saturday and I told the gaffer how I felt.
"He said he didn't want me to leave and I had to bide my time.
"Last summer I worked hard and got a fresh start and I'm glad because I didn't really want to leave.
"Everyone just wants to play football and I wanted afair chance.
"Staying here was not a problem and my family is settled. I don't see the point of going south to a lesser club and not thinking about moving."
Ford is now back in the spotlight and back in form and looking ahead to possible success abroad.
Having won a call-up for Jamaica last year, he's now hoping to impress new national coach John Barnes.
The former Celtic boss is in charge of the Reggae Boyz but Ford reckons he won't get any help as Mark Walters' cousin because his family member once kept Barnes out of the Liverpool side.
He said: "I got my call-up for Jamaica and I felt good.
"The old manager called me up for a look and I played a couple of games out there.
"There was a big shift after that when he didn't call up UK-based players and there was a big fuss.
"He got sacked and John Barnes has taken over.
"I don't know where John is based at the moment because he has only been in the job a month.
"It crossed my mind to call Mark but maybe that's not a good idea. Mark went to Liverpool and John didn't get a game.
"There is a friendly coming up soon and I'd love to get involved again but my first goal is to be consistent for Kilmarnock.
"Like I said, if you are doing well for your club, people will take notice."
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