Dave Jones has clarified the comments he made following Friday’s fiery meeting with local rivals Leeds United at Hillsborough and says that everyone, including supporters, must help weed out the bad element in football.
Jones saw his goalkeeper Chris Kirkland assaulted on the pitch by a visiting supporter, which, together with unsavoury chants in the crowd, prompted a fierce debate and some strong words from both quarters after the derby clash.
Speaking on Sunday, the Owls’ boss said: “I ask them to imagine what they would do if they were in my shoes?
“Those chants weren’t coming from just one bad fan.
“I apologise for tarring all the good Leeds supporters but everybody got carried away with one person, as if it was just one person that caused all the trouble and it wasn't.
“It was an accumulation - that's why I said what I said.”
On the supporter who encroached onto the pitch to attack Kirkland, Jones added:
"He was a hero, he ran in the crowd, they were slapping him on the back so what do you do about that?
"We're always looking to blame other people. The only people that can stop it are the fans themselves.
"Everybody wants to fine somebody. That guy that ran on was already banned. There must be people in the stadium that know he was already banned and knew who he was.
"I know Neil has apologised to Chris Kirkland but that lad could have had a knife or anything."
click here for a frank interview with Kirkland reflecting on Friday's incident.
As a footnote, Sheffield Wednesday would like to thank everyone who took the time to send to the club their comments on the events of Friday evening.
Such was the volume, individual replies were not possible but the club can assure all respondents that their views were duly perused.