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| Newell hopes Rayner row is ended | |
| (8 minutes later) | |
| Luton boss Mike Newell hopes he can put behind him the row caused by his verbal attack on female official Amy Rayner. | |
| He said after Saturday's loss against QPR that the appointment of women referees and assistants was "tokenism for the politically-correct idiots". | He said after Saturday's loss against QPR that the appointment of women referees and assistants was "tokenism for the politically-correct idiots". |
| Newell said: "My apology to Amy Rayner, and to anyone I've offended, is unreserved. I was out of order and she has accepted it. | |
| "As far as I'm concerned, the matter is closed," the Luton manager added. | |
| Newell has kept his job but has been severely reprimanded by the club. | Newell has kept his job but has been severely reprimanded by the club. |
| He was asked to explain his attack on Tomlins and a statement from Luton said: "Any repetition of such conduct will not be tolerated." | He was asked to explain his attack on Tomlins and a statement from Luton said: "Any repetition of such conduct will not be tolerated." |
| Newell apologised to the board and assured them there will be no repeat. | Newell apologised to the board and assured them there will be no repeat. |
| The Football Association has said it will look into Newell's comments, which he made in his post-match press conference at Kenilworth Road. | The Football Association has said it will look into Newell's comments, which he made in his post-match press conference at Kenilworth Road. |
| Newell contacted Rayner personally to apologise for his outburst, but still faced a meeting with the Luton board. | Newell contacted Rayner personally to apologise for his outburst, but still faced a meeting with the Luton board. |
| 606: DEBATE This is one of the best decisions that Luton have made in a while HA 606: Have your say | 606: DEBATE This is one of the best decisions that Luton have made in a while HA 606: Have your say |
| Luton's statement added: "The club disassociate ourselves totally with the comments Mike Newell made regarding the assistant referee, which are completely unacceptable. | Luton's statement added: "The club disassociate ourselves totally with the comments Mike Newell made regarding the assistant referee, which are completely unacceptable. |
| "The club have accepted the manager's explanation and his subsequent public apology." | "The club have accepted the manager's explanation and his subsequent public apology." |
| 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 Bill Tomlins' running of the club. | Newell was also highly critical of chairman Bill Tomlins' running of the club. |
| He 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. | He 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. |
| "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." |