Ladak Retracts Statement

Last updated : 12 November 2008 By Gary Hutchinson

Imraan Ladak has released the following statement in the argument escalating from Saturdays FA Cup tie.

The statement has been released shortly after City put one on their website saying 'no further comment will be made until legal advice has been sought'.

"We are still taking the matter very seriously and trying to find someone who saw the alleged racial abuse take place. We appeal to all supporters in the vicinity to contact the club and tell us what they saw. Any witness will be given complete anonymity. If the incident happened, it is essential that we find out who was responsible.

"I am still very angry that Peter Jackson felt the need to bring the matter to the attention of the national media before the club and the words he used which suggested that our club did not care about the issue. It is not right that our club was portrayed in the manner it was on Monday - and that is what has really upset us all.

"However, supporters and officials should be making friends in football and my remarks yesterday are hardly likely to encourage that between Kettering Town and Lincoln City. I am not too proud to admit there was a much better way of dealing with the situation and that I should have spoken to Peter Jackson privately about my frustrations. We are constantly making mistakes throughout our life and I am happy to learn from them.

"I think my reaction shows how upset we are at any suggestion that our club condones any form of racism and we are as committed as ever to finding and dealing with any offenders.

"As we have repeatedly said, there is still no evidence that a Kettering supporter was involved, but if there was, someone must have seen it and they need to come forward."

Despite the disguised apology for his statement, it was still on the clubs official website yesterday. In addition to this he still seems very dubious as to whether there was an incident of racism. Unfortunately for an individual who has encounter racism in the past, it seems he isn't treating this with the severity it deserves.

However hopefully now Imraan has issued this statement it can be dealt with in a sensible manner.