Let's not lambast Leighton

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Mar 30, 2008 | by ken GORMAN The voice

LEIGHTON JAMES has been an awkward, cantankerous, argumentative blighter from the time I first met him. And he was only 18 then!

In the 30-odd years since he hasn't exactly mellowed. He remains a man who could start a row in a graveyard.

But, for goodness sake, that's why I've always liked him. It's never dull when the James boy's around, even if I've had to suffer that acid tongue many times.

James is in trouble with his bosses at BBC Wales, suspended from the airwaves after declaring that, as an avid Swansea man, he is backing Barnsley to beat Cardiff City in next Sunday's FA Cup semi- final.

It was hardly the right political move to make and it has created a predictable backlash, with Cardiff fans furious and manager Dave Jones accusing him of lacking pride in his own country.

But were his words really so explosive that his BBC job is on the line?

Jones will privately have loved it, because it gives him that much more ammunition to hand to his troops before they march on Wembley.

Cardiff's fans have disliked him long enough already - enough for Leighton to have been advised to keep well away from Ninian Park in recent years.

It has been claimed that James's rash judgement leaves his job as a national pundit untenable, but he would argue his way around that. Just as he always does.

I hope the Beeb relent and decide a rap across the knuckles is punishment enough. We don't want those airwaves filled with bland voices, sending us into slumber. In fact, if they could get Leighton James and Dave Jones together to preview next Sunday's game it would give them their highest audience figures for years!

YOU have to admire the humour of John Toshack, still recovering from a knee operation a couple of months back. Tosh hobbled home from Wales's 2-0 win in Luxembourg to declare: "I'm unbeaten on crutches!"

The Wales boss was also in form as he defended Jason Koumas against accusations over his star midfielder's work-rate.

"I go back to the piano Bill Shankly used to talk about," he said. "You need eight to carry it and three to play it. And Jason's one of those who can play it, no question about that."

THEY'RE calling it the working man's FA Cup this season and nobody could accuse Cardiff City of being flash. The players will step out at Wembley next weekend in suits not rushed down from Savile Row but from Marks & Spencers!