Pierre van Hooijdonk’s decision to go on strike at Nottingham Forest will “forever be a tarnish on his career”, according to one of his former teammates.
Carlton Palmer has laid into the forward for his turbulent spell at the City Ground, which saw him down tools for three months.
And it is clear there is no love lost between the pair.
The Reds won the First Division in 1998, with van Hooijdonk bagging 34 goals. But instead of strengthening the squad, the club sold the Dutchman’s strike partner, Kevin Campbell, to Trabzonspor.
Unhappy at decisions taken, van Hooijdonk infamously went on strike in an attempt to force a transfer, having been denied a move away.
When he eventually returned, many of the squad refused to celebrate with him when he scored against Derby County.
Ex-midfielder Palmer, who signed in January 1999, had left by that point, but says: “No, they shouldn’t have celebrated with him.
“It should forever be a tarnish on his career and a slight on him as a person.
“Whatever he feels was right or wrong, he was under contract at a football club that he signed for. Simple.”
Palmer told the ‘Quickly Kevin; will he score?’ podcast that van Hooijdonk’s actions did not sit well with him.
Asked how it affected the dressing room, he said: “It’s a difficult one because what can you do about it?
“He’s the best player. He scores goals. He does whatever and he decides to go on strike.
“I’ve always said to chairmen, ‘you don’t look after me at the time, when my contract comes up there’s going to be a major problem’.
“I’ve never gone and knocked on a chairman’s door to ask him to re-do my contract. Never.
“I’ve never gone to ask a manager to re-do my contract.
“I’ve signed my contract and I’ll honour my contract. You decide to change it, you decide to change the terms, that’s fine - when my contract is coming to the end and you come speak to me, I’ll get what I deserve to.
“So I don’t get when players sign a contract, sign for the money they sign for, then a club comes in for them, then they down tools or refuse to play.
“That is bang out of order.”
He added: “You signed the contract. The club doesn’t have to sell you just because someone’s come in and made an offer for you.
“The club have bought you for you to do well.
“They want you to do well. Now you’ve done well, you’re holding them to ransom because another club’s come in for you.
“What an utter load of ********.”
