Look, nobody is being harsh on Purtell. Yes, we all know what happened, but both club and fans supported him, stood by him, and welcomed him back, and he had all last season to get back in the swing. His heart problem is thus now a footnote in history and in 2014 all people are saying is he needs now to be judged, going forward, just like any other player.

He does NOT need any "slack" cutting, nor do I think for a second he would expect it, and his medical issues should, in 2014, be a complete irrelevance to his place in the team which must now be 100% on merit and 0% on sentiment.