11-13-2006, 11:44 PM
Luton have issued a statement describing manager Mike Newell's criticism of assistant referee Amy Rayner as "sexist" and "completely unacceptable'' and have called a board meeting where they will ask Newell to explain his comments.
The Luton board were expected to make a decision on Newell's future tonight after he described the appointment of Rayner to run the line at his side's 3-2 defeat to QPR as "tokenism, for the politically-correct idiots".
However, they will not decide which course of action to take until they have spoken to the former Blackburn striker, who also criticised Luton chairman Bill Tomlins in his post-match press conference.
In a statement on the club's official website, the Luton board said: "The board of directors met today to consider the comments made by the manager, Mike Newell, in the press conference after Saturday's game against QPR.
"The club disassociates itself totally from the sexist comments made by him, we have no place in this club and are completely unacceptable.
"Representatives of the board will be meeting the manager as a matter of urgency to ask him to explain his comments and other criticisms.
"Until this meeting has taken place, the club will make no further comment.''
Earlier in the day, Newell apologised for his outburst against women officials in professional football.
The 41-year-old admitted his comments were "out of order" and revealed he has attempted to speak to Rayner to apologise in person.
Newell told Sky Sports News: "I want to apologise publicly to Amy Rayner and to anyone else I have offended.
"The comments I made were ill-timed and out of order. I wanted to apologise privately before I apologised publicly, but I could not get hold of Amy Rayner.
"I have not spoken to her, but I have left messages and I will continue to try to speak to her."
Newell took over as Luton boss in 2003, and lead them to promotion to the Championship in 2005.
Sky News
The Luton board were expected to make a decision on Newell's future tonight after he described the appointment of Rayner to run the line at his side's 3-2 defeat to QPR as "tokenism, for the politically-correct idiots".
However, they will not decide which course of action to take until they have spoken to the former Blackburn striker, who also criticised Luton chairman Bill Tomlins in his post-match press conference.
In a statement on the club's official website, the Luton board said: "The board of directors met today to consider the comments made by the manager, Mike Newell, in the press conference after Saturday's game against QPR.
"The club disassociates itself totally from the sexist comments made by him, we have no place in this club and are completely unacceptable.
"Representatives of the board will be meeting the manager as a matter of urgency to ask him to explain his comments and other criticisms.
"Until this meeting has taken place, the club will make no further comment.''
Earlier in the day, Newell apologised for his outburst against women officials in professional football.
The 41-year-old admitted his comments were "out of order" and revealed he has attempted to speak to Rayner to apologise in person.
Newell told Sky Sports News: "I want to apologise publicly to Amy Rayner and to anyone else I have offended.
"The comments I made were ill-timed and out of order. I wanted to apologise privately before I apologised publicly, but I could not get hold of Amy Rayner.
"I have not spoken to her, but I have left messages and I will continue to try to speak to her."
Newell took over as Luton boss in 2003, and lead them to promotion to the Championship in 2005.
Sky News