Football: That was the weekend that was: Home truth but no word to the Wise, please

EVERYONE KNOWS the touchy one in the Chelsea dressing-room: intelligent, well-read and sometimes upset by the sneering innuendos of mucky-mouthed away fans every week.

No, you guessed wrong. It's not Graeme le Saux, the man remembered at Blackburn for cuffing David Batty over an inappropriate remark (and who seems to be in trouble again for his short fuse).

The one who is really sensitive about the secrets of his off-field life is skipper Dennis Wise, who was so disturbed, apparently, to receive a fan letter at his home address that he asked the club to take steps to ensure this invasion of his privacy is not repeated.

Hence the warning to fans in Saturday's programme: "Dennis believes his home life is private. If a supporter sees him going into his house and identifies where he lives that does not give him the right to write to him at home."

Granted, the letter-writer chose to remain anonymous and his words were not entirely complimentary, but the criticisms he levelled at the not- normally-shy star were reasonable and constructive.

"You are a very able footballer and your career has seen great success," the letter read. "Do you not think, however, that you might be remembered as being mouthy, incredibly rash and the captain who missed 40-plus games through suspension?!

"Can you justify your wages when you can't take the field week after week?" the author asked, before signing off with, "Please win the League. A Season Ticket Holder."