Former Crystal Palace boss Pulis pranked as footballer impersonates him in bid to loan West Brom star
Football’s mid-season transfer window is known as the silly season, and it was sillier than usual for West Brom boss Tony Pulis.
The reigning Premier League Manager of the Season was hoodwinked by a trickster pretending to be Bolton Wanderers Northern Irish boss Neil Lennon.
The prank caller, Blain Morrison — who plays in the Northern Irish third tier — called Pulis to ask for defender Gareth McAuley on loan.
Believing it was Lennon on the line, Pulis turned him down saying his 35-year-old defender “plays every week”.
After calling McAuley a “top lad”, the West Brom boss then helpfully suggests alternative targets such as Paddy McCarthy from his former club Crystal Palace.
Explaining how the two-minute prank call came about, Morrison told the BBC: “I was with the team on Saturday night outside our social club and someone came up with a number for Tony Pulis. I rang him and I couldn’t believe it when he called back.
“I thought the call would last a few seconds and didn’t expect it to last any longer.
“I hope Tony Pulis is not offended and sees the funny side and takes it in the right spirit.”
With Feb 11’s 3-2 defeat still fresh in the mind, Tottenham Hotspur supporter Morrison has his next target in mind, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.
“I would like to do Brendan Rodgers, but with the accent and him coming from Northern Ireland, it might be too hard,” he said.
Sources: Mail Online, BBC
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