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David Healy had last laugh by guiding Linfield to league title and shutting up keyboard warriors, says Warren Feeney

Warren Feeney

Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph

Warren Feeney

Press Eye Belfast - Northern Ireland - 2nd November 2009.
Belfast Telegraph staff Images Graham Luney

Graham Luney Twitter Email

May 04 2022 07:00 AM

Former Linfield boss Warren Feeney says he’s delighted his old Northern Ireland team-mate David Healy has delivered the perfect answer to “keyboard warriors” and slammed abuse aimed at the Blues manager’s father as “absolutely disgusting”.

After guiding the club to a fourth consecutive league title on Saturday, Healy said he would discuss his future with his family after an exhausting campaign which saw him face fierce criticism.

Northern Ireland’s record goalscorer said he struggled to block out a “barrage of insults” from online trolls and he added: “You are coming in and seeing and reading people being critical of you and your family. I had a situation where my dad was abused at Coleraine a number of months ago.”

Feeney was in the Windsor Park hotseat from April 2014 until he left to become assistant boss at Newport County in October 2015 and Healy then took on his first managerial role.

The former Bournemouth and Luton Town striker says criticism is part of the game but personal abuse is never acceptable.

“I’m delighted for David because people don’t know how hard it is to do the job,” said Feeney. “You get abuse everywhere in football and David has played in front of big crowds, he can handle stick and it’s part and parcel of football but personal abuse is never acceptable.

“I’ve seen his interview, he’s emotional as the job does get to you, it drains you but you can’t take what he has achieved away.

“You have to deal with keyboard warriors who think they are managers and it’s annoying.

“I was at Coleraine and I spoke to his father Clifford at the game. I could not believe the abuse and language used, this was at Christmas and Linfield had lost two games all season.

“I’m delighted he has gone on and answered the critics because I was absolutely disgusted by what was said that day to David’s father. That’s not real Linfield people.

“I’m a Linfield fan and I go to games when I’m home. Ninety nine per cent of fans will back David and his father but what I heard that day is not right after what he has done for his club and country.

“Coleraine are a good side and you will lose matches. Some people must think you just turn up and win. It’s not football for me, we are all human beings and you treat people with respect.”

Former Northern Ireland team-mates Warren Feeney and David Healy against Iceland in 2007

�INPHO/PRESSEYE/William Cherry

Former Northern Ireland team-mates Warren Feeney and David Healy against Iceland in 2007

Feeney added: “I totally back what he says about the tiny minority of fans who disappoint and annoy us.

“They are not Linfield fans for me. You don’t go out to lose and it’s a difficult league with strong teams.

“I’ve been a manager there myself and I believe you should back the club.”

Despite being champions, Linfield were dismissed as also-rans from early on due to experienced players departing and the club moving to a full-time structure.

Big-spending Glentoran were being tipped for the title and their challenge faded, while the Blues finished with a real flourish.

Feeney now hopes the Linfield board fight tooth and nail to hold onto his former international comrade.

“What David has achieved is second to none and he deserves it all,” added the 41-year-old.

“David is a legend with Northern Ireland, he was brave enough to take the job on and he’s brought huge success to the club.

“He can leave Linfield, when he wants, with his head held high. He has had the last laugh but I’d love to know what that small minority of fans who doubt him want from the club.

“If I was the Linfield board I would keep tying down David, he’s bringing you league title success.

“It’s an unbelievable achievement, the Linfield players believe in David and they have gone and done it for him.”

Feeney also has a spring in his step after steering Welling to safety in National League South.

The former Cardiff City and Swansea City frontman, who succeeded Peter Taylor in March, has kept the Wings up with a game to spare after beating champions Maidstone 3-2 on Bank Holiday Monday.

“I got over the line on Monday so I’m very pleased,” he said.

“We stayed up with a game to spare. We beat the league champions and we’ve got there in the end.

“It was tough but I’m delighted for the club and even though I won a league title in a foreign country (with Pirin Blagoevgrad in Bulgaria) I rate this as one of the biggest achievements in my career. I’m delighted.”

Feeney took charge for the final 10 games of the campaign and will now hold talks with the cub regarding his future.

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David Healy had last laugh by guiding Linfield to league title and shutting up keyboard warriors, says Warren Feeney

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