Hutch spills the beans on PDC

Former Irons midfielder Don Hutchison enjoyed mixed fortunes in his two stints at West Ham but reveals one huge regret – not putting team-mate Paolo di Canio in his place.

In an exclusive interview in the latest edition of Blowing Bubbles magazine, the Scotland international has told how the temperamental Italian pushed his team-mates to breaking point in training – only to then make up for it by being, well, Paolo.

Says Hutch: “He was such a huge character, you never knew which Paolo was going to turn up – when he was on it and in a good mood, he was brilliant, but when he got the hump he was an absolute nightmare.

“I really wish I had stood up to him and told him not to behave like that, but I’d only just returned to the club and felt I didn’t have enough of a voice in the dressing room. Then the next day he’d be the absolute best – and I thought ‘I can’t get a handle on this guy,I need to take a step back – this is the manager’s job, not mine.’

Paolo is Paolo.”

To read more from Don Hutchison, including his love-hate relationship with Harry Redknapp, the funniest player he played with, and how serious injury changed his attitude towards football, pick up a copy of the latest edition of Blowing Bubbles – out now.