Nigel Pearson and Gary Lineker have been snapping at each other over Pearson's criticism of Match of the Day's focus on his neck-grabbing ways.
Yesterday, Lineker joked that he and his colleagues should be wary of Pearson's rage, given his past form. Today, the combative Pearson took a swipe back at Lineker, remarking 'I pay my tax bill'.
I thought they were slightly disruptive. I don’t care what they think of me. I pay my tax bill. It (McArthur tackle) is a non-event as far as I’m concerned. It’s not helpful when the three fountains of knowledge on Match of the Day make a mountain out of a molehill. The lad’s OK. It was very light-hearted.
The tax jibe refers to a tabloid allegation that Lineker is part of a tax avoidance scheme run by financier Patrick McKenna and that the HMRC (the scourge of Rangers) have hit Lineker with a £1.3m tax bill. Lineker denies that allegation.
Pearson remains Leicester City manager. It is believed that the confusion about his position arose because one of the ruling family members (the Srivaddhanaprabha's who run Leicester) was considering sacking him and his son persuaded him otherwise. Pearson appeared to imply this yesterday.
If I was I’d tell you that he was sacked by one of the owners’ family and reinstated by another, but then I’m not.
