BRIAN CLOUGH was blazing yesterday. And still brandishing in disgust the newspaper pictures of England's football captain "looking like a yob." If anyone was going to be outraged by David Beckham's latest hairdo you could count on the ex-Derby and Nottingham Forest manager, whose teams were renowned for their self-discipline and clean-cut image. Clough, awarded a mere two England caps during his free-scoring career and denied the international manager's job by the FA, was so incensed by Beckham's audacity that he did not simply state his objections — he roared his anger.

He yelled: "I don't want the captain of my country looking like that, like a yob. And if I was England manager, he wouldn't be leading out the team against Mexico.

"In fact, I'd have to think very seriously about offering him his shirt.

"That is not a hairstyle he has had done. It is a mess. Worse than that, far worse, it is a downright insult to one of the most prestigious posts in sport.

"To be England captain is a great honour and carries huge responsibility. He is supposed to be a role-model for the youngsters of this country. He is expected to set the right example with an appropriate image.

"His pictures are shown all around the world and, right now, the England captain looks more like a bloody convict or an American wrestler.

"Tell me I'm biased and bigoted. Tell me times have changed and that I am out of date.

"But don't tell me Beckham looks better than Billy Wright or Bobby Moore, Kevin Keegan or Alan Shearer or any other England captain of the past. Don't tell me I'm wrong."

Clough did not smile once during our conversation. His disappointment and fury were clearly visible as he pointed to the front and back pages and attempted to fathom Beckham's motives.

He added: "Maybe it was that missus of his, the one who tries to sing. And if it was not her idea in the first place, I am certain she didn't object. If he was making some kind of point to Alex Ferguson, now the season's done, well that says something in itself.

"If it was his idea of fashion, that is not valid either. He looks lousy.

"I know I am old- fashioned and have only a couple of brain cells left. But I am still aware Beckham has his rights. I suppose it is his right to have his hair mucked about like that.

"Well, it is also his right to pick his nose and I do not want to see the England skipper photographed doing that, either.

"That hairdo is just as much an affront to standards of decency and image. He looks grotesque.

"I will never understand why he has done such a thing — or why any manager could tolerate it.

"Somebody said Beckham was just wanting to be different. I will tell him how to do that. Go out and score three or four goals from time to time, like I did. I scored 251 goals in 274 league games.

"Let Beckham try and beat that. Then he would be different and would gain admiration and respect from everybody who loves the game.

"This way he is attracting nothing but contempt."

I am sure Clough speaks for the majority of the public when he fears the effect it will have on the would-be Beckhams throughout the land.

Clough declared: "I have a grandson of 2½ and I want him to be able to idolise Beckham for all the right reasons.

"I want the little lad to admire the captain of England. I don't want him shocked and seeing something that gives him the wrong message. What Beckham has done is an abuse of privilege and office, as far as I'm concerned.

"In Sven Goran Eriksson's position, I would have told him I was not having a player in my team standing for the national anthem as skipper with his head in that state.

"I would have told him he was no longer captain until he had grown his hair. And I would have taken another 24 hours deciding whether to let him play at all."

With that, Brian Clough hurled his newspaper across the room.


The England captain said in response: "There have been a lot of good things surrounding the Mexico game, including my goal and the result. The only thing that upset me was Brian Clough's comments. "I respect him as a manager but for someone as big as that to slaughter me and my wife, I find it a bit sad."

Derby manager Jim Smith, a pundit on Sky Sports for the game, said: "Brian is a legend but we take no notice of him. He recently told me to retire."