RICKETTS HITS OUT AT HULL

PROUD Bolton defender Sam Ricketts has accused Hull City of forcing him out of the KC Stadium door in the summer.

He was part of the promotion-winning Tigers side and played his part in keeping them in the Premier League.

But that was not enough to convince Hull he was worthy of bumper long-term deal.

The Welsh international was stunned when Phil Brown pulled the offer of a new contract last term.

Ricketts quit Hull in disgust and left for the Reebok determined to prove he was worth top flight wages.

He said: "They backtracked on one or two issues and that made up my mind that I knew I wanted to go.

"There's a big thing about players showing clubs loyalty, well it has to be the other way as well.

"Clubs seem to forget sometimes that loyalty needs to be given back to players.

"You've seen it with a lot of clubs. Players get them promoted then all of a sudden you don't see them or if they do stay at the club.

"They don't reward in the same way as players that are brought in. I didn't hesitate to come here - I jumped at the chance with both feet. I was desperate to come here."

The 28-year-old's move meant he went from one extreme to the other when it comes to managers.

He is now working under a boss in Gary Megson who shuns the limelight instead of a Hull manager in Phil Brown who was happy to grab the headlines.

And there is no doubt which one the player prefers.

Limelight

"They are different personalities," he added. "Everyone has made their mind up about Phil and the way he conducts himself while Gary is just here to do his job and not worry too much about what else goes on.

"It suits me as a person. I'm not someone who wants to be chucking myself into the limelight and be here, there and everywhere."

Ricketts has been impressed with the way Megson is slowly changing the Wanderers image as they attempt to shed the long-ball tag.

He added: "That label is unfair. Slowly people's opinions are changing about us. You hear little comments that Bolton are playing some decent stuff.

"There's a handful of sides who play more route one than us in the Premier League this season - it's just when you get a stigma attached to you, it's very hard to lose.

"We've just not had the results to go with our football. If we were a little bit higher, everyone would be singing our praises."

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