Ever wondered about the real story behind Jack Charlton's reluctance to include David O'Leary in his plans during the Ole Ole years, or why he preferred playing Mark Lawrenson and Paul McGrath at full back or in midfield, even though they were born and bred centre-halves? Over to you David O'Leary.

"The bottom line with Jack is that he hates any centre-half who passes the ball, end of story," he told the London Independent at the weekend. "It was all about putting the ball, and the player if necessary, into the stand. Basic as that. He told me that if I passed the ball to my other centre-half, he'd have me off the pitch. Jack used to look at me, Paul McGrath and Mark Lawrenson as poofy centrehalves. His cure for Paul McGrath was to put him into midfield."

There you are. O'Leary's comments were prompted by Charlton's questioning of Rio Ferdinand's qualities. Young Rio's main weakness, according to Jack? He's "good on the ball". Crikey.