Kowalski Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 Former Aberdeen boss checks into rehab By Ryan Crighton Published: 01/10/2008 Former Aberdeen and Inverness Caledonian Thistle manager Steve Paterson has checked into rehab after blowing £1million at the bookies, it was reported today. The former Manchester United star, who lives in Moray, arrived at the Sporting Chance Clinic in Hampshire on Monday to try to tackle his gambling problems. The 50-year-old has described his battle with depression, saying that after he was sacked as manager at Aberdeen FC, he was suicidal and could not get out of bed. He squandered his £100,000 severance payout from the Dons within three months before racking up another £100,000 on credit cards soon after. “In 30 years I reckon I have given the bookies more than £1million,†he told a Glasgow-based newspaper. He continued: “Addiction is an illness. I was ill when I went to Aberdeen and I apologise to them and the fans because I knew I was ill and I shouldn’t have taken the job.†He said that he was convinced that depression was the root cause of his problems, adding: “My father was a depressive, although I don’t think it’s a genetic thing with me because when I’m not boozing or gambling, I’m usually good company.†Mr Paterson says he has created chaos and havoc with his lifestyle, but thanked his mother and his daughters for sticking by him. “I am so grateful to them and to the Sporting Chance Clinic for their help and encouragement,†he said. During his time in charge at Inverness, Paterson masterminded arguably the biggest shock in Scottish Cup history when he guided Caley Thistle to their famous 3-1 win over Celtic in 2000. During his seven years at the club he guided them from the Third Division to the brink of the SPL, before taking the vacant Aberdeen manager job in 2002. However, in 2004 he was ignominiously smuggled out of Pittodrie in a car boot when he was sacked, later claiming it was to avoid photographers waiting outside. Either side of his spell in the Highland capital, Paterson managed Highland League sides Huntly and Forres Mechanics. In 2006 he replaced Iain Stewart as manager of ambitious Division Two side Peterhead, but was dismissed in January this year after a string of disappointing results. The Sporting Chance Clinic, set up in 2000, is the brainchild of former England captain Tony Adams, who overcame a lengthy battle with alcohol addiction. The base has been used to help various sporting figures in the past. The £4,000-a-week course Mr Paterson is on is being funded by the English PFA, whom the former defender was a member of between 1975 and 1981. “They have not turned their back on me,†he added. Quote
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 The 50-year-old has described his battle with depression, saying that after he was sacked as manager at Aberdeen FC, he was suicidal and could not get out of bed. I distinctly remember him being unable to do so when he STILL the fucking manager. Quote
boboisared Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 I distinctly remember him being unable to do so when he STILL the fucking manager. Dundee at home wasn't it? Quote
BigAl Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 It would be easy to slate him..... but the damage he did to our club is in the past, and therefore as one human being to another I wish him good luck in his battle with his adiction Quote
TENEMENTFUNSTER Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 It would be easy to slate him..... but the damage he did to our club is in the past, and therefore as one human being to another I wish him good luck in his battle with his adiction Completely agree mate. Keep taking the pills Pele. Pills, not Pils son. Quote
BigAl Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 Keep taking the pills Pele. Pills, not Pils son. Quote
boboisared Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 I tried to play Zdrilic but they said no, no, no. Quote
BobbyBiscuit Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 The 50-year-old has described his battle with depression, saying that after he was sacked as manager at Aberdeen FC, he was suicidal Weird. I was fucking suicidal for most of his reign. Quote
Superstar Tradesman Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 Rehab is for quitte........... As Big Al said, I harbour no ill feeling towards him and wish him the best of luck. Quote
rocket_scientist Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 They tried to make me go to rehab but I declined. Get well soon, Stevie, or not, as the case may be. If you do recover, try smiling. Genuine ones, the ones without the moroseness behind your eyes. Discover happiness too. Me suspects he is in terminal decline. Quote
Guest swaddon Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 It was more the fault of the board than it was Paterson's fault that he was appointed. He may have had a good track record with Inverness CT, but the Aberdeen job was far too big for him, in my opinion. As has been said by a few people in this thread, I bear him no malice, and I hope he can get over this, and I wish him luck. Quote
scotfree Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 All the Best to SP. If it was no for his problems who's to know what would have happened. Quote
Guest Caroline B Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 I noted that one of the rags this morning had the headline "SPL MANAGER CHECKS INTO REHAB" Sensationalistic rubbish. He hasn't been an SPL manager for years. Yet another attempt by the press to get a rise out of Dons fans? Quote
BringBackLapirasTache Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 Not a suprise about the depression angle of the story, I dont think I have ever seen anyone being interviewed who looked so defeated, hope he manages to sort himself out. In a few years time you will probably see this story in the P&J Former Aberdeen manager enters rehab Calderwood checks into the sporting chance clinic in an atempt to cure his tanorexia Quote
Goldie03 Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 I remember being ever so excited when he got the Aberdeen job - I didn't know anything about him at all not being a lover of ICT but Radio Scotland were raving about him at the time and it was rumoured that he might go to Utd before we came along Then about a week after he got appointed The Scotsman had quite a scathing article about him being an alcoholic and how he would struggle to hold down the job - how right they were.................. Quote
Guest swaddon Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 I noted that one of the rags this morning had the headline "SPL MANAGER CHECKS INTO REHAB" Sensationalistic rubbish. He hasn't been an SPL manager for years. Yet another attempt by the press to get a rise out of Dons fans? And nor will he ever be again. Quote
rocket_scientist Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 Why does anyone care if he sorts himsel out or not? Fuck him. He has zero redeeming qualities. Fucking loser. Quote
One Bobby Clark Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 They tried to make me go to rehab but I declined. Get well soon, Stevie, or not, as the case may be. If you do recover, try smiling. Genuine ones, the ones without the moroseness behind your eyes. Discover happiness too. Me suspects he is in terminal decline. What happened to you in the intervening 8 hours between your posts? Quote
Kowalski Posted October 1, 2008 Author Report Posted October 1, 2008 What happened to you in the intervening 8 hours between your posts? :wino: :wino: Quote
BobbyBiscuit Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 Why does anyone care if he sorts himsel out or not? Fuck him. He has zero redeeming qualities. Fucking loser. Sounds familiar, eh? At least though, he knows when to have a day off. Know what I'm saying? Quote
tom_widdows Posted October 1, 2008 Report Posted October 1, 2008 fucking typical lazy schadenfreude journalism for the muppets of society to lap up One of the most scary things I ever heard was that in some households this type of journalism is the only source of reading material available. Are these journos born scum or is it drilled into them at Uni? Quote
rocket_scientist Posted October 2, 2008 Report Posted October 2, 2008 :wino: :wino: After an afternoon dealing with the fake moral outrage clan and the sympathy providers, my position of apathy had strengthened. And Bobby, you take the Biscuit. Still not forgiven and forgot, eh? Well don't speak shite to total strangers then. Ronaldo's a poof. Quote
Reekie_Red Posted October 2, 2008 Report Posted October 2, 2008 Aye, all the best Stevie. In many a Morayshire man, your playing days earned you the nickname Pele. And your managerial days may well have been blessed with such brilliance, providing you hadn't taken arguably the hardest job in the Scottish leagues ... a club with the demands of the Old Firm, but with the money of Inverurie Locos. He's not the first ... and certainly will not be the last Aberdeen manager to depart in shameful circumstances. I foresee your predecessor being bundled into that boot in less than two months ... although with his size, it may need to be a transit van rather than a car boot. Quote
Superstar Tradesman Posted October 2, 2008 Report Posted October 2, 2008 He's not the first ... and certainly will not be the last Aberdeen manager to depart in shameful circumstances. I foresee your predecessor being bundled into that boot in less than two months ... I'm not a betting man but I'm willing to wager that won't happen. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.