Mike Williamson Denies Being Sent Off On Purpose

Mike Williamson has apologised to Newcastle fans and his teammates for the red card he picked up at Leicester City yesterday. Sent off for two yellows, the second off the pitch foul on Jamie Vardy sparked huge controversy when manager John Carver insinuated post-match that his defender had got himself sent off on purpose as an "easy way out" of his club's relegation woes. Williamson now misses the next two crucial games for The Magpies; Saturday's home game against West Bromwich Albion and the trip to Queens Park Rangers on Saturday, 16th May. In a statement to the Wardle Whittell Agency, Williamson defended himself against his manager's accusation;

€œI would like to apologise to the Newcastle supporters and my fellow teammates for getting sent-off during yesterday€™s game.€ €œThere was absolutely no intent to hurt Jamie Vardy or get sent-off. €œBut I recognise that I should have been more composed and measured in my determination to win the ball. €œUnfortunately, it did the one thing that I never wanted to do, and that was to hurt the team.€ €œI will do whatever I can to help teammates prepare for the next two games and fight to get back into the team when I€™m available. €œI€™ve had the honour to play for Newcastle for five years now, and I can genuinely say that I feel privileged to play for this club. €œI would never do anything intentionally to hurt the team or its supporters.€

Can we now expect John Carver to apologise for his comments made against his own player? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJOHvk0fgNU It will be interesting to see where 31-year-old Mike Williamson's career goes from here. With one year left on his contract and after a season of looking woefully inept at this level, will Newcastle look to offload the centre-half knowing that he's damaged goods after Carver's comments? It looks almost impossible that he would be able to make his way back into the team for the final game of the season against West Ham United, although given the lack of numbers in defence, Carver may have no alternative but to play him. What has always helped Williamson stick around at Newcastle has been his low-wages. Signed when the club were in the Championship, it's thought Williamson is one of our lowest paid first teamers and that salary consideration is likely why he wasn't sold two summers ago when he fell behind Fabricio Coloccini, Steven Taylor and Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa in the pecking order and was regularly left out of the match-day squad. But with Yanga's poor performances last campaign and Taylor's injury proneness, Williamson found himself back in the side and some steadying displays in our improving defence saw the club ship out Mbiwa and his high-wages to Roma last summer. Williamson stayed and due to a lack of other options, has kept himself in the starting line-up despite poor displays. But his time looks like it's well and truly up now. Have we heard the last of Williamson-gate or is this there more to come from this story next week? For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.