But I have no doubt that most players love him, just read that passage in siggys book.
Edit: if you listen to that interview with Merrick in the other thread then he was asked about players not being happy and he said he was surprised because he never had any inclination, but that no one is happy when they're benched and when they're loosing and that it's easy to talk anonymously rather than to someones face.
No doubt whatever rumor there was existed but was blown out of proportion by the press.