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McDermott: Staying at Quins

Boots 'N' All caught up with Harlequins coach Brian McDermott to clear up his comments in the wake of their defeat to Catalans Dragons at the Millennium Magic weekend.

McDermott was understandably furious as he watched Quins throw away a ten-point lead, however he said his post match comments where not in the heat of the moment.

Newspaper headlines claimed that he wondered "whether the whole bit of being in London works", which has disappointed the Yorkshireman.

"I don't know if it was heat of the moment, I just think it was a misunderstanding of what I was trying to put across," said McDermott on Boots 'N' All

"I was very, very disappointed, but heat of the moment suggests that I said something wrong. I am still not sure why I made the headlines at all.

"The first I knew that I had questioned whether London works or not was on Sunday morning when I read the headline on teletext.

"To be honest with you I am very disappointed. I have done about 30 interviews all about how good it is here, how much work goes in developing the game in the community and never once have I seen my statements or name make the national headlines.

"I come out with one statement that could be looked at both ways; that you could take a cynical view on and they wack it straight up there on teletext.

"We are all here for the long haul, I have moved my family down here, we live here and we will continue to until such time as the boss says we don't want you anymore.

"If that happens then I will move on, but while I am here I will throw my all into it.

"Again I am disappointed that I even have to answer these questions, but I guess that is the nature of the beast."