SWINDON Town Football Club have today accepted the following apology from the Football League Paper following the article which appeared on Sunday 20th January.
A letter was issued to the paper on Monday, demanding a retraction of the article, allied to an unreserved apology and the request for damages. All of these have been agreed to by the Football League Paper.
The Football League Paper will also make a £500 charity donation to the STFC Charity of the Year, the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.
Tuesday 22nd January, 2013
Dear Sirs,
I am writing to offer my unreserved apologies for my article in the Football League Paper on Sunday 20 January under the headline 'Swindon Town: The 'cheats' who really prospered'.
It has been made abundantly clear to me by Swindon supporters that I have made a grave misrepresentation.
Swindon Town's debt is owned 98 per cent by Andrew Black, the owner of the club, so no-one has 'gone unpaid' as I wrongly suggested.
My intention had been to raise the wider issue of insolvency and debt in football, and more precisely the need for clubs to move towards self-sustainability.
I saw Sir William Patey's reported comments about administration and used this as the basis for my comments.
I chose the wrong target and for that I am genuinely sorry.
Chris Dunlavy
Football League Paper editor in chief, David Emery said: "Chris Dunlavy is a fine young journalist who on this occasion allowed his crusading instincts to obscure the true facts. It is a harsh lesson.
"Another regret of this unhappy episode is that, until now, Chris had always enjoyed good relations with Swindon and found the club to be both helpful and accommodating."
