Scharner appeals to Baggies team-mates

Paul Scharner has made an impassioned plea to his West Bromwich Albion team-mates to reinstate their fines system or risk relegation.

Scharner, nicknamed the ‘Moanivator’ by his team-mates, took the extraordinary step of asking the media to publicly challenge his fellow Baggies to address growing complacency in the squad.

The Austria international believes the lack of a dressing-room fines system is hampering West Brom’s attempts to avoid relegation.

The Baggies used to police themselves on punctuality, cautions and other errors of judgement, but scrapped the system in December after using the collected funds on a Christmas party.

But with West Brom slipping to within one point of the relegation zone, Scharner wants the system reinstated.

“I think it was going well until the last game before Christmas, against Aston Villa,” Scharner told the Birmingham Mail.

“We stopped the fines at that point. Since then we have got lazy and you can see it on the pitch.”

“I have chosen to say this to the media because it will maybe get some more attention.”

“I haven’t told the manager. I am 30 years old, 11 years a professional player and I think I know what is needed.”

“I’m one of the oldest in the squad and I feel a responsibility. My main focus is to wake up not only myself but the whole team.”

“It’s been bad the last few weeks and I am hoping the fines will return. I tried to bring them back on January 2 but it’s difficult to set back up again because it can be an easier life to not do so.”

“When I first came to the club I got called ‘Moanivator’.”

“Now my question is: Do my colleagues want to get relegated with a nice Paul Scharner or stay in the league and put up with the Moanivator?”

“I am very passionate about this because at the end of the season it will say on my CV that I’ve either survived or been relegated.”

“At the moment there is no relegation and I want to keep that. My main focus and intention is to keep West Bromwich in the Premier League.”

“I’ve made mistakes in the last few games and it’s not good enough for me, or my levels. And now it’s time to change this, get focused and fight for the team.”