Sacked in the Morning

Former striker and manager Steve Claridge sits down with Amy Irons and Craig Levein for a hilarious trek through his nomadic football career. He lifts the lid on playing under volatile managers like John Beck and Barry Fry, detailing a legendary halftime brawl that left his boss stuck in the physio machinery. Steve also shares brilliant stories about cutting thousands of cabbages with a machete hours before kickoff and explains the chaotic truth behind that infamous live TV gatecrashing involving a red leather thong

Mark McGhee has seen it all, done it all, and lived to tell the tale. In this episode, the former forward looks back on his incredible journey through the game—from conquering Europe under Sir Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen to the relentless, high-pressure world of modern football management. Packed with brilliant dressing room anecdotes, career-defining moments, and honest reflections on the highs and lows of life in the dugout.

From surviving the gruelling physical torment of Rangers' pre-season under Jock Wallace to a forgettable stint at Manchester City and becoming an absolute icon at Raith Rovers, former Scotland forward Gordon Dalziel joins us to look back on his wildly unpredictable life in the game. He opens up completely about his unique relationship with football, admitting he actually hated playing Saturdays because of crippling pre-match nerves and details how an unexpected Sunday morning intervention by manager Frank Connor completely saved his career. All that plus Gordon shares hilarious locker-room memories of the legendary Davie Cooper, why he kept a hammer in his bedroom as a teenager, and his chaotic "exaggerated" stories that landed him all over the front pages.

From the North London luxury of Arsenal to the high-stakes world of international football and a dramatic retirement at 29, former England and Tottenham winger David Bentley joins us for a wide-ranging and candid reflection on his unique path through the game.

He relives his formative years under Arsène Wenger, the thrill of the North London Derby, and the tactical brilliance, and occasional friction, experienced under managers like Fabio Capello, Mark Hughes, and Harry Redknapp. All that plus David opens up about the truth behind that infamous bucket of water.

With 44 goals in 80 appearances, Duckens Nazon is Haiti’s all‑time leading goalscorer — and on June 14 he’ll be hoping to fire a warning shot that could derail Scotland’s World Cup dreams before they even begin.

Duckens joins Craig and Amy to look ahead to a huge summer, reflecting on Haiti’s historic qualification and what it truly means to people back home. He also opens up about life playing for St Mirren, adjusting to the Scottish weather, and the dramatic moment he was forced to flee Iran when war broke out. Plus, Craig tries a little pre‑match mind games ahead of that massive World Cup showdown.

Former Tottenham Hotspur and Celtic defender Ramon Vega pulls no punches as he joins Sacked in the Morning, delivering a brutally honest verdict on the turmoil at Spurs – and why he believes the club has lost its soul. From lifting silverware at the old Wembley to playing through a broken ankle in the 1999 League Cup final, Ramon revisits a career defined by pressure, pain and unforgettable highs.

We also dive deep into his cult‑hero spell at Celtic, from arriving in Glasgow expecting a place on the bench to scoring twice on his debut and becoming part of a treble‑winning side packed with big personalities. Which managers shaped him most? Who taught him football in a completely different way? And why does he believe modern football is drifting dangerously far away from its fans?

Former Hearts, Manchester City and Rangers defender Paul Ritchie was part of the last Hearts team to run the Glasgow clubs close in a title race. What will be going through the current squads mind? Will they be talking about the possibility of winning the title?

We also delve deep into Paul’s unforgettable career, packed with incredible stories from the dressing room and beyond. Which manager fined him for getting his hair cut too short? Which club signed him despite the boss never once meeting him? And which gaffer promised him a deal… then never phoned back?

Craig Levein and Amy Irons talk to the man Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds hired to be the 'adult in the room' at their Wrexham project. Shaun Harvey has been right at the heart of everything the Hollywood duo have done in Wales. The former EFL chief executive and current Wrexham director joins us for a straight‑talking look at why this campaign has gone well beyond outside expectations. Away from the Wrexham story, Harvey reflects on setting targets without boxing players in, why belief inside a club matters more than noise from the outside, and how experience and planning can ride out injuries, pressure and scrutiny. Drawing on years at the top of the game, he opens up on managing expectations, earning success the hard way and what it really takes to keep a football club moving forward when everyone is watching.

From non‑league pitches and rejection at 15 to Premier League promotion and international caps with Ireland, former Sheffield United, QPR and Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny joins us for a brutally honest look back at one of football’s most colourful careers. He relives his extraordinary relationship with Neil Warnock, from unforgettable dressing‑room moments and fierce touchline scraps to the trust that kept seeing him signed time and again. Paddy opens up on promotion highs, crushing setbacks, a nine‑month ban, clashes with managers and what it really takes to survive.

From coming through the ranks at Hibernian to winning trophies and playing Champions League football with Rangers, former Scotland midfielder Kevin Thomson joins us to look back on a career full of big moments and bigger characters. He lifts the lid on life under Walter Smith, including receiving the famous hairdryer treatment, along with the highs, the injuries and the lessons learned along the way. From dressing rooms to dugouts via a stint in management with Kelty Hearts, Kevin tells us what it really takes to survive at the top of the game.