Ex-Man Utd wonderkid banished to train on his own and put through ‘torturous' sessions to force him out of club
But amid the brutal regime, he was driven on by a supportive coach urging him: "Don't let them break you".
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Ryan Tunnicliffe had a nightmare second year with Adelaide United
Credit: Getty
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Tunnicliffe played with future stars like Paul Pogba at Old Trafford
Credit: Getty - Contributor
Midfielder
He was at
Tunnicliffe, now 32, went on to have decent spells with
But a move to Australian team Adelaide United on a two-year deal in 2023 went less than smoothly.
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And Tunnicliffe's troubles peaked when the club's technical director Ernest Faber wanted him out - according to
The Australian broadcaster revealed whistleblowing claims by former assistant Travis Dodd.
The former Adelaide player, 45, suggested that ex-coach Carl Veart was undermined by Faber last season.
Dodd reckoned Faber asked players to pick the team without telling Veart.
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And it's reckoned Tunnicliffe was caught up in the situation.
He only played four minutes last season before departing in May - with Veart also leaving after five years in charge, as well as Dodd.
New Man Utd star Matheus Cunha runs rings around pals as he plays 5-a-side on streets in his hometown
And it's alleged Tunnicliffe faced a bizarre ordeal as he struggled for game time.
7News Adelaide reported that Faber "forced unwanted import Ryan Tunnicliffe to train on his own, putting him through torturous running sessions in the hope he would quit the club".
Dodd told the TV channel: "I said, 'Mate, don't let them break you'. He goes, 'I can do it'.
"And, credit to him, for two weeks he rocked up when he was asked to rock up, did what he was asked to do, and seemingly Ernest (Faber) had had enough after two weeks and let him rejoin the first-team squad."
Former Adelaide player Josh Cavallo alleged on the 7News Facebook comment section that he too suffered because of Faber.
The ex-Socceroos U-20 ace, 25, claimed Veart was "under clear instructions by the people above him" not to pick him.
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Tunnicliffe left Adelaide in may after an unhappy second season
Credit: Alamy
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