Sam Finley says it was a conversation with Joey Barton's late mentor, Steve Black, that enabled the midfielder to avoid a suspension for Bristol Rovers.
The 29-year-old was facing a two-match ban had he picked up his 10th yellow card of the season before the end of the Pirates' 1-0 win over Colchester United last week, and the all-action midfielder walked that tightrope impressively to ensure he was available for crucial games in Rovers' run-in.
Finley has revealed it was a 90-minute phone call with Black days before he died aged 64 in February. Rovers boss Barton had worked with Black – who enjoyed successful coaching careers in rugby and football – at Queens Park Rangers, and he enlisted the help of the Geordie in his managerial stints with Fleetwood Town and the Gas.
With Finley eager for advice on how to improve his game, he was put in contact with Black by Barton's close friend and consultant, Eddy Jennings. Finley says their conversation left a lasting impression, leading to him making a promise to his manager that he would make it to the 37-game yellow card amnesty without receiving another booking.
"Not many people know this but Eddy put me in touch with Blacky, who obviously the gaffer has spoken a lot about," Finley told Bristol Live.
"I had one conversation with him the Thursday before he passed on Saturday (February 19) I think that’s a testament to the man he was. I was telling him everything that was going on in my life and how can I improve and I mentioned (the yellow cards) to him.
"Obviously, I won’t talk about what he went into, but from the hour-and-a-half conversation I had with the man, I knew. I spoke to the gaffer after Leyton Orient and I had seven or eight games to go (before the amnesty). I told the gaffer I was going to do that for him.
"I did it for the manager, but it just goes to show how great a man he (Black) was, even though I only spoke to him for an hour and a half. The amount of plaudits that everyone gave him... I had a conversation with him and that helped me get through it massively and I told the gaffer at Leyton Orient I would get through it."
Barton attended Black's funeral on Wednesday and tweeted a fresh tribute on Monday morning. Black had held virtual seminars with Rovers' players before his passing and audio of his voice was played to the squad before last month's win at Leyton Orient.
There were jokes among the travelling press that with the threat of suspension no longer hanging over his head, Finley was odds-on to pick up a yellow card in Saturday's win at Northampton Town. The Scouser, though, believes he was hard done by when referee Oliver Langford booked him for a challenge on Aaron McGowan in the 68th minute at Sixfields.
"You just can’t tackle anymore," Finley said. "I’ve won the ball. It’s as if you can’t go to ground anymore. I’ve gone to ground and the referee has said it’s because of the way it looks, but I’ve won the ball kicked it against the lad and it’s gone out for a throw-in.
"I'll be honest with you lads, it's a good job I’m coming towards the end of my career because I’d be knackered if I was just starting out."
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