Source: PA
Brown urges fans to accept Calderwood apology
Motherwell manager Craig Brown has appealed to the club's fans to accept Colin Calderwood's apology over remarks made following the death of Phil O'Donnell.
Hibernian boss Calderwood issued an apology on Thursday over comments he made after refusing to hold a minute's silence for O'Donnell while Nottingham Forest manager. Clubs across Britain paid tribute to O'Donnell in the days following the death of the Motherwell captain, who collapsed during a game against Dundee United on December 29, 2007. But Calderwood felt a tribute was inappropriate before Forest's home match with Huddersfield.
Calderwood was quoted as saying at the time: "Sometimes it needs to be a bit closer to home. The fact that it was a boy in Scotland, does that make it any different to a boy in Colombia?" However, the former Scotland defender felt his words had been taken out of context and apologised for the offence they caused ahead of Motherwell's trip to Easter Road.
Brown, who handed Calderwood all of his 36 international caps, said: "I ask the Motherwell fans to respect Colin's apology. He has made a full and unqualified apology. I know the nature of the guy and I really feel he wouldn't have meant any ill towards Phil and his family. He played with Phil after all.
"I too selected Phil for the Under-21 and the national team. I get emotional talking about him as you would understand. Please accept the apology and bear no ill will. You create a further sadness to the family when you highlight anything like that. The best thing is to let it rest and accept Colin's apology because I know how sincere it is."
Calderwood, who took over at Easter Road last month, said: "It's something that has obviously caused offence and for that I can only apologise. I played with Phil and I apologise, especially to his family. They are the ones we should always show respect to. If it caused them any distress that would worry me greatly and I apologise to them now."
