CONTRACT MYSTERIES REVEALED

THERE'S a lot of mystery about player contracts these days and they're certainly a good deal more complicated than they used to be.

I know that because I've been looking through an old Blackburn contract from the 1940s - the one given to my wife Kate's grandfather, Robert Tomlinson.

The details were incredible, even down to a clause which said: 'The player must try his hardest at all times'. I bet Phil Scolari wishes that had been in a few Chelsea players' contracts when he was in charge.

The players were only allowed one complimentary ticket for each game and were sent a letter explaining why. Part of it read: 'There will only be one complimentary ticket for players. If the players friends and family will not pay for a ticket, then how can the fans be expected to?'

At Blackpool today, we get three comps if we start the game and two if we don't. That's usually enough, unless you're playing a really big team.

When we play away, all the players who start get two tickets each but the five substitutes get just three to share between them. You might not know if you're on the bench until an hour before kick-off, which is when you have to ring whoever is coming to see you and explain they might have to buy their own ticket!

I'm still working hard to get over my injury but I was delighted to see Eduardo back for Arsenal. Two goals against Cardiff in his first game after 12 months out is incredible.

I speak from personal experience here, as I had a similar spell on the sidelines in my time at Hull City.

In my comeback game, I barely got two touches, never mind two goals.

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