Autobiography

disciplinary lapses, with good reason. Here was
a young man with amazing ability but a
potentially self-destructive baggage of personal
problems.
It was a classic case of too much, too soon. It
took me twenty years to claw my way out of
poverty, but he was pulled out almost
overnight and was given money beyond his
wildest dreams. An attacking winger has to
have loads of self-belief, and he has this
quality in abundance. I was there to pat him
on the back after a match, and at the training
ground. But I am not his father.
He was convicted of inexcusably drink-driving
whilst disqualified and without insurance, and
sentenced to three months in jail. Upon his
early release he had to play for us whilst
wearing an electronic tag and was suitably
sorry and embarrassed, promising it would
never happen again. To his credit it never did
and at least he gave himself a chance; it has to
be said he bounced back brilliantly during our
fight to avoid relegation and was one of our
best players. In 2006 we sold Jermaine to
Liverpool for £7million and his salary was
doubled overnight.
George Best may have been the same under
Sir Matt Busby; he is a great example for
Pennant to look at and see how a great talent
can be wasted. I was with George in 2005 at
Portsmouth. When I arrived at Fratton Park for
lunch, George was at the bar and I felt so sad
and sorry for this fallen idol, standing with a
glass of wine in a different world to the rest of
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