FORMER Cobblers midfielder Ryan Gilligan has launched an astonishing attack on current Town boss Aidy Boothroyd on social networking site Twitter.
And the 25-year-old, who currently plies his trade with Ostersunds FK in Sweden, also heavily criticised former manager Gary Johnson, a man he labelled a ‘cretin’ and an ‘outright moron’.
He also commented publicly on the long-rumoured physical confrontation between Johnson and striker Shaun Harrad.
Gilligan’s initial tweet was to express his surprise that Jake Robinson and Adebayo Akinfenwa had not featured in Northampton’s 0-0 draw at Rochdale on Saturday.
Akinfenwa was an unused substitute while Robinson did not travel – his reaction to not making the trip, also on Twitter, causing Boothroyd some concern.
Gilligan wrote: “Just seen the NTFC match report! No Robinson or Akinfenwa not convinced he knows what the hell he is doing” #leaveityeah #fool.
“Last seasons joint top scorer & natural born finisher both left out! Football is an odd game! He just isn’t keen on personalities!”
The comments prompted a number of responses from Cobblers supporters, with Gilligan responding to one: “If the players were allowed to voice an opinion without being fined it would all be revealed trust me!”
One then sought clarification as to whether Gilligan was referring to Boothroyd or Johnson, and he said: “Boothroyd. Garry Johnson was a disgraceful human being. Not a genuine bone in his body!”
And then continued: “Boothroyd is far more calculated. GJ was just an outright moron.”
On Robinson’s exclusion, a supporter suggested to Gilligan that the player was wrong to complain on a public forum, to which he replied: “Not sure he was crying? I know he’s not that type of player FACT some of you fans need a reality check! It’s not all rosey.
“It’s much more than being left out of the team, that’s minor to some of the things the players go through! You only see a fraction! And that fraction is what the manager/media allow you to see, it’s all manipulated to there advantage to create excuses! Trust me.”
Harrad left the club to join Bury last season, and has since been loaned to Cheltenham Town, for whom he scored on his debut on Saturday.
There were rumours about a confrontation between the striker and manager Johnson during their time together at Sixfields, and Gilligan alleges they were true.
“Johnson tried to fight him, grabbed Shaun by the throat in the dressing room before being separated,” he said. “Lost the lads then & there.
“He went off on one because Shaun didn’t make a run! Starting hurling abuse and then went for him #cretin.”
Gilligan was released by the Cobblers in the summer when his contract ran out, ending a six-year spell at Sixfields.