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Coventry City midfielder Danny Swanson has revealed his battle with depression and has slated the boss who snubbed him last season due to his condition.
Swanson checked into the Priory hospital four years ago during his days with Dundee United as the Tannadice club looked to help him tackle him mental health problems.
He came out the other side but his past resurfaced last summer after leaving Peterborough United, the Scot eventually signing for the Sky Blues after being snubbed by another manager because of his past.
The winger refuses to name and shame the manager involved but he admits he would have been better keeping quiet about his demons.
Swanson explained to the Daily Record: “I thought it made things easier when it came out in the open about my issues.
“I hoped it would help people and stuff but when I was leaving Peterborough things happened to make me think it might not have been the best idea.
“There was a team in League One, one of the top teams, whom I was supposed to be speaking to. But they turned me down because they heard I had been in The Priory.
“So I don’t know if it was a good thing coming out or not. It was an eye-opener. I will never forget it because I was delighted to speak to them but when they heard that they just said ‘no’.
“You could call it discrimination so I won’t name names and bring it all up. When I told my missus Holly, she broke down crying. I was angry and the next time we played them, I had to hold myself back because I was too pumped up.
“But that’s what happened and it made me think I shouldn’t have come out with it. That shouldn’t be the case because it helped me personally but then you get some idiots like that guy.
“My agent told me about it. He kept it quiet until after I signed for Coventry. But I will remember it, I won’t ever forget what that guy did.
“Hopefully now he looks at it and sees me playing every week but I’m not really bothered what he thinks now. He doesn’t have a clue because there are a lot of players with problems and I’d hate to think other folk get treated that way.
“Football is taking more notice of mental health problems and that’s a great thing. However, when you have people like that in the game, what chance do you have?”
Swanson signed a two-year contract with Steven Pressley's side instead but struggled for consistency in his 18 appearances. He joined SPL side St Johnstone in February and believes doing so helped put his career back on track.
The winger said: “I’ve been with managers who stood by me, like Peter Houston, Darren Ferguson, Steven Pressley and the gaffer here. So they are the people you respect.
“You just have to look after it and make sure you take your medication. You have to keep on top of it and try not to worry about things too much. It’s always there at the back of your mind but I feel good just now.
“I was injured for a long time at Dundee United and I think that’s where it all came from. I couldn’t see a way I was coming back. It just builds up and then hits you. These days I’m relaxed, I’m comfortable and I think that has come with having my little boy Roman.
“He’s seven months old now so you go home from training and forget about football. I love spending time with him and things are great.
“I am really settled off the park. Since my wee boy was born I have changed a lot. In the Dundee United days let’s just say I wasn’t settled.
New permanent Sky Blues boss Tony Mowbray has indicated he wants to assess Swanson in pre-season and the winger admits the prospect of helping Coventry back to the big time appeals to him.
He said: “They have released a few players because there was a big squad. So it’s just a case of speaking to the manager and seeing what his plans are and we’ll take it from there.
“My agent has spoken to him and he said he wants me back with a clean slate.”
Swanson checked into the Priory hospital four years ago during his days with Dundee United as the Tannadice club looked to help him tackle him mental health problems.
He came out the other side but his past resurfaced last summer after leaving Peterborough United, the Scot eventually signing for the Sky Blues after being snubbed by another manager because of his past.
The winger refuses to name and shame the manager involved but he admits he would have been better keeping quiet about his demons.
Swanson explained to the Daily Record: “I thought it made things easier when it came out in the open about my issues.
“I hoped it would help people and stuff but when I was leaving Peterborough things happened to make me think it might not have been the best idea.
“There was a team in League One, one of the top teams, whom I was supposed to be speaking to. But they turned me down because they heard I had been in The Priory.
“So I don’t know if it was a good thing coming out or not. It was an eye-opener. I will never forget it because I was delighted to speak to them but when they heard that they just said ‘no’.
“You could call it discrimination so I won’t name names and bring it all up. When I told my missus Holly, she broke down crying. I was angry and the next time we played them, I had to hold myself back because I was too pumped up.
“But that’s what happened and it made me think I shouldn’t have come out with it. That shouldn’t be the case because it helped me personally but then you get some idiots like that guy.
“My agent told me about it. He kept it quiet until after I signed for Coventry. But I will remember it, I won’t ever forget what that guy did.
“Hopefully now he looks at it and sees me playing every week but I’m not really bothered what he thinks now. He doesn’t have a clue because there are a lot of players with problems and I’d hate to think other folk get treated that way.
“Football is taking more notice of mental health problems and that’s a great thing. However, when you have people like that in the game, what chance do you have?”
Swanson signed a two-year contract with Steven Pressley's side instead but struggled for consistency in his 18 appearances. He joined SPL side St Johnstone in February and believes doing so helped put his career back on track.
The winger said: “I’ve been with managers who stood by me, like Peter Houston, Darren Ferguson, Steven Pressley and the gaffer here. So they are the people you respect.
“You just have to look after it and make sure you take your medication. You have to keep on top of it and try not to worry about things too much. It’s always there at the back of your mind but I feel good just now.
“I was injured for a long time at Dundee United and I think that’s where it all came from. I couldn’t see a way I was coming back. It just builds up and then hits you. These days I’m relaxed, I’m comfortable and I think that has come with having my little boy Roman.
“He’s seven months old now so you go home from training and forget about football. I love spending time with him and things are great.
“I am really settled off the park. Since my wee boy was born I have changed a lot. In the Dundee United days let’s just say I wasn’t settled.
New permanent Sky Blues boss Tony Mowbray has indicated he wants to assess Swanson in pre-season and the winger admits the prospect of helping Coventry back to the big time appeals to him.
He said: “They have released a few players because there was a big squad. So it’s just a case of speaking to the manager and seeing what his plans are and we’ll take it from there.
“My agent has spoken to him and he said he wants me back with a clean slate.”
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