Jeff Stelling insists he didn’t get Hartlepool’s Dave Jones sacked but apologises if he went too far
Sky Sports icon demanded Jones leave the club while live on the air and saw his wish come true the very next day
JEFF STELLING insists he is not responsible for Dave Jones’ sacking at Hartlepool.
But the Sky Sports icon has issued an apology if people think he took things too far with an on-screen rant last month.
Stelling let rip on live TV calling for Jones to either walk away or be sacked by the League Two strugglers, saying: “This isn’t personal to Dave Jones, but for the good of the club – walk now. If it means sacking him, do so.”
And it appears his words were taken on board, with Hartlepool parting ways with Jones the very next day.
However, Stelling is adamant his outburst had no influence on the club’s decision, telling : “I apologised if I’d gone too far.
“I should have stopped when I said ‘please walk away Dave’ and not gone any further.
“Richard [Bevan – chief executive of the League Managers Assocation] said he welcomed the call and would pass on the apology. I gave him as much insight into the club as I could, and my view, and fought my corner.
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“At the end of the day I didn’t get Dave sacked; the chairman called TalkSport on the Tuesday, of his own volition, and said any thought that I’d got Dave Jones sacked was completely wrong, that they hadn’t taken my views into account at all.
“If they had, they’d have sacked him at five past six on the Saturday but they didn’t, they sacked him late on Sunday night.”