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McClean up against Liverpool defender Joe Gomez in a recent Premier League game. Nigel French

McClean insists players aren't 'snakes' for leaving West Brom once they're relegated

The Ireland winger has admitted that many of the squad will want to remain in the Premier League, and added that they have families to look after.

IRELAND’S JAMES MCCLEAN has given an honest admission that many of West Brom’s current squad will want to leave if, as expected, the club is relegated from the Premier League.

With just two matches left to play, the Baggies sit bottom of the table and five points from safety, despite picking up seven from their last three matches under caretaker boss Darren Moore thanks to 1-0 wins over Manchester United and Newcastle, as well as the 2-2 draw against Liverpool.

There is likely to be an exodus if West Brom are in the Championship next season, but winger McClean says it’s unfair to label players who depart “snakes”.

“Everyone wants to play Premier League football so I do think there will obviously be a lot of people looking at their next move or their future come the summer if the inevitable happens and we do go down,” McClean told Express & Star.

The fans just see it as if you do go down and players leave then you’re a snake, or you’ve taken the club for a ride and this and that.

“But we’ve got families as well, we need to look after them. We’ve also got a career to look after as well, we want to be the best we can be. You have to look after yourself first and foremost.”

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    Mute Robert O Farrell
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    Sep 25th 2014, 7:14 PM

    Zeebs; the flick up against Wales was no fluke.

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    Mute Eugene Canavan
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    Sep 25th 2014, 9:10 PM

    Yes. And over running his position was no mistake either. Hang on a second.

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    Mute Larry Smierciak
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    Sep 25th 2014, 10:44 PM

    I believe he is good at making a mess on Conor Murray.

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    Mute Nigel
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    Sep 26th 2014, 12:32 AM

    Larry. Being a perverse creep suits you.

    32
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    Mute RobsonKeane
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    Sep 25th 2014, 7:59 PM

    Wasn’t too skillful at making the Lions Test team last summer. Had more joy with his scrum half mate a few weeks later back in Dublin.

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Sep 25th 2014, 8:10 PM

    He who trolleth too obviously gets ignordedeth.

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    Mute philip ryan
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    Sep 25th 2014, 8:49 PM

    Any naught players make the lions lately?? EVER!

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    Mute Sean Collins
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    Sep 25th 2014, 8:56 PM

    The little green man at work in Leinster mr keano.

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    Mute Dave O'Shaughnessy
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    Sep 25th 2014, 11:01 PM

    For the Love of God Robson you’re just boring at this stage.

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    Mute Anthony O Connell
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    Sep 25th 2014, 8:23 PM

    Sources tell me that he’s crap at pitch and toss ;-)

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    Mute jerry Clarke
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    Sep 25th 2014, 8:27 PM

    Me hole!

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    Mute Eugene Canavan
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    Sep 25th 2014, 9:14 PM

    I heard he’s crap at not thinking alot of himself.

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    Mute Paddy
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    Sep 26th 2014, 7:15 AM

    Jeeeze Eugene you really dislike the guy don’t you?

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    Mute Sean Collins
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    Sep 26th 2014, 10:21 AM

    Paddy he is just a Leinster boy

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    Mute David Beausang
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    Sep 25th 2014, 11:14 PM

    Get picked in November Zeebs!

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    Mute Suzy Mooney
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    Sep 25th 2014, 9:05 PM

    Zeebs!!!!!

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    Mute Marc MacFhearchair
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    Sep 25th 2014, 9:52 PM

    All that skill but can’t defend and poor work rate.. Pity

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Sep 25th 2014, 10:47 PM

    Bit like Robnoxious Kearney so!

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    Mute Robert Behan
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    Sep 25th 2014, 11:03 PM

    Flash is it quite possible you are obsessed with Kearney?

    Get a grip lad! He is Ireland’s best 15 by a mile!

    Personality wise I can think of other players for notable mention!

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    Mute philip ryan
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    Sep 25th 2014, 11:22 PM

    Should have been at Toulon game in H.Cup semi unreal try saving tackle from Zebo! The lad can tackle!

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    Mute Flash Gordon
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    Sep 25th 2014, 11:31 PM

    He can’t tackle – simples – j Payne will give him a good run for no 15 !

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    Mute RobsonKeane
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    Sep 25th 2014, 11:55 PM

    Joe Schmidt doesn’t rate Zebo and that’s good enough for me.

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    Mute garboobs
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    Sep 26th 2014, 12:51 AM

    At my club last week joe Schmidt made it very clear that Zeebs is a player who is in strong contention for November…wouldn see joe as a guy to include some lad he doesn rate!

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    Mute Sean Collins
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    Sep 26th 2014, 10:18 AM

    He is more than boring I’d say he wouldn’t know a rugby ball from a Hurley , probally drinks in an all Leinster pub.

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    Mute Stereo Mike
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    Sep 26th 2014, 12:44 AM

    Still can’t tackle

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    Mute the
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    Sep 26th 2014, 4:58 AM

    Ending up playing football for ireland must be about 50 times harder to do than end up playing rugby for ireland .. And for countries where rugby is barely played it must be 1000s of times easier .. And yet, the media rarely gives stick about any irish rugby player but gives out about the irish footballers all the time .. What gives? The Irish rugby players can’t *all* be great all the time? Also, a lot of lads who end up playing for ireland knew each other in secondary school .. This isn’t the case for the soccer team and gives an indication of what a small circle of the population are ever likely to contribute players to the rugby team …

    So yeah .. Better comment on the video now … It was a good video

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Sep 26th 2014, 6:43 AM

    How can playing roundy ball be harder than rugby? Is there one Irish player playing at champions league level?
    Where are Ireland ranked at falling over sorry I ment soccer?
    Go back to your mammy and try not hurt yourself

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    Mute Cian O Donoghue
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    Sep 26th 2014, 7:45 AM

    Only one. Plays for Nicosia.

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