Simon Clist Interview

Simon started his footballing career with Bristol City as a schoolboy before moving to Tottenham Hotspur but, after failing to make the grade at White Hart Lane, he rejoined City on July 1 st , 1999.

Simon was a popular player with the fans and was considered by many as the natural successor to Brian Tinnion, once Tins' playing days came to an end, but, with the arrival of Luke Wilkshire at Ashton Gate and Danny Wilson's preference for a number of other players in front of Clist, it was clear his days at Bristol City were numbered.

He was placed on the transfer list last season and, after a loan spell at Torquay and only fleeting appearances in the first team this season, Simon decided to move to Conference side, Barnet, in an attempt to resurrect his playing career.

We caught up with Simon after his first full appearance for his new club, and asked him about his time at Ashton Gate, his feelings towards the club and management at City and his decision to leave the club he has been at for most of his career.

Q. You played your first full game for Barnet yesterday (a 3-1 win against Margate). How did you find it, playing at that level, when you've been used to league football?

A. The first fifteen or twenty minutes of the game were quite end to end and I got kicked around a bit. I thought ‘Oh no, this isn't the Conference, is it?' but, after that, the game settled down and we started to play a bit more football and pass it around and I enjoyed it.

Q. Obviously, your opportunities with Bristol City were quite limited, but what do you consider to be the highlight of your time at Ashton Gate?

A. The best moment for me was my debut. The fans have always been superb to me and it was a fantastic feeling to run out in front of them and to be playing for the first team.

Q. You've been with Bristol City for the vast majority of your career. Was it a difficult decision to finally decide to leave the club?

A. Yes. I really wanted to try and stick it out with City, if I could, but I felt I'd waited long enough for a chance. I did get a few games under my belt recently, though a couple of those appearances were on the right wing, which isn't my best position and I think that showed in my performances out there.

Q. You were brought back into the team against Barnsley in the centre of midfield. After two years mostly spent on the sidelines, did you feel that maybe you did have a future at Ashton Gate after all?

A. I didn't read too much into being brought back into the first team, as I knew there were a number of players ahead of me in the pecking order when everyone was available and that I was never going to get a run of games on the back of one good performance. Having said that, I think I did myself proud in that particular game, when I was given the opportunity to play in my best position.

Q. You were always a popular player with the supporters and were highly rated by a lot of fans. Many considered you to be a potential replacement for Tinnion once he hung up his boots, so were you tempted to stay until the end of the season and see what the situation was then?

A. It was pretty obvious that, regardless of the club's situation, I wouldn't have got regular first team football next season. There were players that the manager brought in and that he preferred to me, so, at best, I was looking at being a squad player. Obviously, things can change quickly in football, but I didn't feel I could afford to hang around until the end of the season just on the off-chance of getting back in.

Also, my contract was up at the end of this season, so I wanted to sort myself out rather than get to the summer and find I had no club to go to. The club never said that I definitely wouldn't be offered a new contract, but they weren't in a position to give me a definite answer, as a lot depended on promotion in terms of what they would be able to offer and, from my point of view, I couldn't afford to hang around just in case of promotion.

I spoke to the manager, and we both agreed that I was no more than a squad player, as he had favourites ahead of me, so my chances would be limited.

Q. A lot of people were surprised that you only got an offer from a Conference club. Were you disappointed not to get offers from league clubs?

A. Obviously, I would have liked to have got an offer from a league club, as I feel I'm well capable of playing at that level but, with football the way it is these days, there just weren't a lot of clubs around looking to take players on. It's just one of those things and I'm just happy to have my immediate future settled.

At the end of the day, it's first team football and that's what I need. I'm 22 and I need to be playing regularly. Not only that, but a lot more scouts watch teams in the London area, like Barnet, than watch Bristol City reserves, so I felt it was a case of having to take a step down, try to do well and maybe move on again.

Q. After performing well in the centre of midfield against Barnsley, Danny then moved you out onto the right wing, which is clearly not your best position. Did you feel that was fair?

A. In terms of my performance in that position and my involvement in the game against Rushden (where Simon played right wing) it was fair to substitute me. Having said that, right wing is not my position and it's not my game to play out wide, but I tried to do my best and do a job for the team, though it was obviously difficult for me.

Q. Would you say you got a rough deal at Bristol City and that, with a bit more patience, you could have shown everyone what you could do?

A. In recent times, yes. But, in Danny's first year at the club, I played for the first team for the best part of a whole season and there were times then when I wasn't playing to the best of my abilities for a few games and the manager stuck with me. I was younger then, and maybe he wanted to give me more time to prove myself at that time.

Q. There is a lot of talk on the terraces that, at some point, you had a falling out with Danny Wilson and, since then, he froze you out of the team. Is there any truth in that?

A. No, there's no truth in that at all. I have seen that rumour doing the rounds on the City Fans' Forum and it makes me laugh. There's never been anything like that between me and the manager, in fact, we've always got on very well together. I think when a player isn't picked, people try to find a reason but the simple reason is, Danny preferred other players to me. Ultimately, the manager has to choose a formation he wants his team to play and, unfortunately, I didn't fit into what he was looking for in terms of my style of play.

Q. Do you have any hard feelings towards Danny Wilson or anyone else at Ashton Gate?

No, not at all. I've never had any arguments with Danny Wilson and I have a lot of respect for him and all the coaching staff at Bristol City. He's helped me a lot and I'd like to thank him for that.

Q. What do you think of City's chances of promotion this season?

A. I think they'll probably be in the play-offs. City are a lot better than most of the teams in that division and there's no particularly strong team in there, as there has been over the last couple of years, but I think the play-offs are the most likely position for them, and I think they'd be strong favourites to go up from there. Of course, the play-offs are a bit like cup games and form can go out of the window a bit, but I'd fancy City to get promoted.

Q. If City don't get promotion, what would you see as being the reasons for missing out?

A. That would be down to the formation and team selections, I would say. City have a very strong squad and a lot of good players to choose from, so I guess if they don't go up, you'd have to look at how those players were used over the season.

Q. Do you have a message for the City fans, now that you've left the club?

A. Yes, I'd like them to know how much I appreciate the support they've given me during my time at the club. I was out of the team for long periods, but I always got a lot of support and encouragement from a lot of people and that really kept me going, to know I was still wanted like that. I can't thank them enough for that.

The Incider would like to thank Simon for taking the time to talk to us, and wish him all the very best for the future.