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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Newell sorry for Rayner outburst | Newell sorry for Rayner outburst |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Luton manager Mike Newell has apologised for the comments he made about lineswoman Amy Rayner after Saturday's defeat by QPR. | Luton manager Mike Newell has apologised for the comments he made about lineswoman Amy Rayner after Saturday's defeat by QPR. |
| "I want to apologise publicly to Amy Rayner and to anyone else I have offended," Newell told Sky Sports. | "I want to apologise publicly to Amy Rayner and to anyone else I have offended," Newell told Sky Sports. |
| "The comments I made were ill-timed and out of order." | "The comments I made were ill-timed and out of order." |
| Luton have called an emergency board meeting for 1600 GMT to discuss boss Newell's attack on female officials and chairman Bill Tomlins. | Luton have called an emergency board meeting for 1600 GMT to discuss boss Newell's attack on female officials and chairman Bill Tomlins. |
| Newell added that he had tried to contact Rayner but had failed to do so. | Newell added that he had tried to contact Rayner but had failed to do so. |
| "I wanted to apologise privately before I apologised publicly but I could not get hold of Amy Rayner," he confirmed. | "I wanted to apologise privately before I apologised publicly but I could not get hold of Amy Rayner," he confirmed. |
| "I have not spoken to her but I have left messages and I will continue to try to speak to her." | "I have not spoken to her but I have left messages and I will continue to try to speak to her." |
| Will I be the manager at the weekend? That is a question for the board, but I am not going to resign Mike Newell | Will I be the manager at the weekend? That is a question for the board, but I am not going to resign Mike Newell |
| The Football Association has said it will look into Newell's comments, which he made in his post-match press conference on Saturday. | The Football Association has said it will look into Newell's comments, which he made in his post-match press conference on Saturday. |
| The former Everton and Blackburn striker was unhappy that Rayner and referee Andy D'Urso failed to award his side a spot-kick when QPR defender Marcus Bignot tangled with Carlos Edwards in the penalty box. | The former Everton and Blackburn striker was unhappy that Rayner and referee Andy D'Urso failed to award his side a spot-kick when QPR defender Marcus Bignot tangled with Carlos Edwards in the penalty box. |
| "It is bad enough with the incapable referees and linesmen we have but if you start bringing in women, you have big problems," said Newell. | "It is bad enough with the incapable referees and linesmen we have but if you start bringing in women, you have big problems," said Newell. |
| "This is Championship football. This is not park football, so what are women doing here? It is tokenism, for the politically-correct idiots. | "This is Championship football. This is not park football, so what are women doing here? It is tokenism, for the politically-correct idiots. |
| "She should not be here. I know that sounds sexist but I am sexist, so I am not going to be anything other than that." | "She should not be here. I know that sounds sexist but I am sexist, so I am not going to be anything other than that." |
| Newell was also highly critical of chairman Tomlins' running of the club and this will be discussed at the emergency board meeting. | Newell was also highly critical of chairman Tomlins' running of the club and this will be discussed at the emergency board meeting. |
| 606 DEBATE: What do you think of Newell's comments? | 606 DEBATE: What do you think of Newell's comments? |
| A Luton statement said: "The meeting is to discuss the comments made by the manager, Mike Newell, at Saturday's post-match press conference. | A Luton statement said: "The meeting is to discuss the comments made by the manager, Mike Newell, at Saturday's post-match press conference. |
| "A formal statement will be made following the board meeting." | "A formal statement will be made following the board meeting." |
| Newell said he thought the club had gone backwards since Tomlins took over two years ago, with a proposed move to a new stadium showing no signs of progress, plus he claimed the chairman would soon be leaving Kenilworth Road. | Newell said he thought the club had gone backwards since Tomlins took over two years ago, with a proposed move to a new stadium showing no signs of progress, plus he claimed the chairman would soon be leaving Kenilworth Road. |
| Newell said: "I have not spoken to the chairman for months. I cannot understand what he is doing here. | Newell said: "I have not spoken to the chairman for months. I cannot understand what he is doing here. |
| Amy Rayner earned the right to be an assistant referee in that game Rachel Yankey | |
| "The club has gone backwards off the pitch during the last two years. He has not made any decisions and he has contributed nothing. | "The club has gone backwards off the pitch during the last two years. He has not made any decisions and he has contributed nothing. |
| "Everything he has got involved in, he has messed up. I am not considering my own future because, apparently, he is going. | "Everything he has got involved in, he has messed up. I am not considering my own future because, apparently, he is going. |
| "I will not suffer fools - I never have and I never will. | "I will not suffer fools - I never have and I never will. |
| "There are players out of contract at the end of the season but nothing is being done. I am up to my eyes in it." | "There are players out of contract at the end of the season but nothing is being done. I am up to my eyes in it." |
| And, speaking on Monday, Newell refused to retract his comments about Tomlin. | And, speaking on Monday, Newell refused to retract his comments about Tomlin. |
| "I very rarely say things I do not mean," he said. | "I very rarely say things I do not mean," he said. |
| "I have not spoken to the chairman. They have called a meeting, and I am sure I will learn the outcome. | "I have not spoken to the chairman. They have called a meeting, and I am sure I will learn the outcome. |
| "Will I be the manager at the weekend? That is a question for the board but I am not going to resign." | "Will I be the manager at the weekend? That is a question for the board but I am not going to resign." |
| Meanwhile, Rayner has already received the full backing of referee's chief Neale Barry, QPR's Bignot and England international Rachel Yankey. | Meanwhile, Rayner has already received the full backing of referee's chief Neale Barry, QPR's Bignot and England international Rachel Yankey. |
| Arsenal Ladies star Yankey told BBC Five Live: "She has the qualifications to officiate at Championship level and to say she should not be there is totally unfair. | Arsenal Ladies star Yankey told BBC Five Live: "She has the qualifications to officiate at Championship level and to say she should not be there is totally unfair. |
| "Amy Rayner earned the right to be an assistant referee in that game. | "Amy Rayner earned the right to be an assistant referee in that game. |
| "Amy is a role model. Football remains a male-dominated sport but she has the bravery to do something she loves. | "Amy is a role model. Football remains a male-dominated sport but she has the bravery to do something she loves. |
| "If the decision was wrong he might attack the assistant referee but he should not say she should not be in the game simply because she is a woman. | "If the decision was wrong he might attack the assistant referee but he should not say she should not be in the game simply because she is a woman. |
| "Games mean so much to managers and maybe he made those comments out of rage but it cannot be condoned." | "Games mean so much to managers and maybe he made those comments out of rage but it cannot be condoned." |
| Last month Newell was warned as to his future conduct by the FA after being found guilty of abusing a match official. | Last month Newell was warned as to his future conduct by the FA after being found guilty of abusing a match official. |