Firstly Ian, why did you stay at Notts at the end of last season? You could have gone and found yourself a new club, why didn’t you?
I’ve been here a long time, It’s been seven years now. My family’s settled down and my kids are at a good school, so I just wanted to stay.
We know you have taken a major pay cut. Has this affected you financially in anyway?
Obviously it has affected me but you just have to get on with it. As I said, I was happy to stay here. The kids are at good school. And money is not everything.
Going back a few weeks to the Chesterfield game now. And as a qualified referee, would you have sent a player off if you witnessed the challenge you made in that afternoon?
Definitely. It was a bad challenge to be honest. It was rather late. So yeah, the Referee did the right thing in my view.
Why did you make such a rash challenge so far away from our area against Chesterfield?
Basically, I was just a bit frustrated. I knocked the ball to far infront of me and then I just lunged at the player. I don’t really know why, I cannot really answer that. It was just a bad challenge. I was going for it and I just went for it basically.
Who is the best Manager you’ve worked under is and why?
Probably Sam Allardyce, because he changed me from playing in midfield into a center half. He saw the potential that was there in me becoming a good center half. So as I said he changed me from midfielder into a center half, so I would say him.
Who has been the hardest striker you have marked?
I’ve not marked that many because I have not been a center half that long. So I’ve not marked that many high divisions. But Marcus Stewart is probably one of the best I’ve marked when he was at Bristol Rovers and Huddersfield. He’s very sharp and he’s got great feet. So I would say Marcus Stewart.
Yourself and Nick Fenton seemed to have developed a decent partnership at the back. What’s it like to be playing with Nicky Fenton?
He’s a very good player. He’s got good feet and he’s very good in the air. And to be honest the way he is playing at the minute there should be a lot of clubs watching him. And I enjoy playing with him because I have got a lot of confidence in him.
Who is the best player you have played with?
There have been a few players at this club that have been good players like Shaun Derry and Steve Finnan who have gone onto better things. Liam Daish was a good center half, but unfortunately he was injured while he was at Coventry. He was a good player. There have been quite a few of them. No one really sticks out, but I’d probably say Steve Finnan.
Were you looking for a new club to sign for in the summer?
I think you’ve always got to look just incase they didn’t want me to stay here. So yeah my agent was looking around. There was a few clubs interested. But it was just a case of me having to move and that wasn’t really an option.
How did you feel a year ago when the Wimbledon deal fell through?
Disappointed to be honest. At that stage, my little girl hadn’t started her school so it would’ve been a good opportunity to go back home closer to the family.
What areas of your game do you think need improvement?
Probably my passing. Sometimes my passing goes a stray. And I need to work on my concentration; sometimes I let my concentration go
Currently, your contract expires at the end of the season, will you be looking to extend your contract at Notts or not?
If they want me to stay then I want to stay, it’s as simple as that really. Now obviously the financial state the club is in at the minute no one has approached me yet about a new contract. So I only assume that I want to be spoke to once we’re out of administration.
Some fans are suggesting that team is not putting in 100% into each game for some games. Would you agree with this?
No I wouldn’t. I can’t really speak for other people. But I always put in 100 percent. I can’t sit here and slag people off. The manager would deal with it if he sees that players aren’t putting in 100 percent. We’ve got to be sure that when we go out there everyone is committed to do the job, and get the three points.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?
Good question. Obviously I referee and I also do a bit of coaching now aswell, so maybe somewhere down that line.
Where realistically can Notts finish up this season?
I think we have to pushing for a play off place. If we win a few games on the trot, that’ll bring a bit of confidence into the team, then there is no reason why we can’t get in the top six. We should be aiming at least for mid table.
Do you have a message for the fans?
Basically, just keep getting behind us. The fans away from home always get behind us. We were poor at Huddersfield, but they did get behind us. And when we came back here against Northampton, they got behind us and kept encouraging us. So just keep encouraging us, and we’ll do the best we can.