Barnet have apologised to Stockport. Not for ending their automatic promotion hopes, but for announcing the Bulls' scoreline over the tannoy system!
The announcement of the Bulls leading 2-0 midway through the first half led to the 993 Hatters fans being 'upset', and prompted assistant boss Peter Ward to storm into the stands to remonstrate with Bees officials even though boss Jim Gannon later admitted that it gave the players and fans a fresh determination. A statement from Barnet reads:
"We correctly dealt with the matter and made sure that it didn't happen again and it is a shame that the announcement was pursued at the post-match Press conference, on websites and on phone-ins and has tended to overshadow a cracking game of football.
"The announcement had no bearing on the result. Barnet, minus six injured first teamers, completed a fine double over a top side with two stunning goals.
"Barnet has always enjoyed a good relationship with Stockport and it is regrettable to read disparaging remarks from their manager saying that we are an unprofessional club who are going nowhere as their directors accepted our prompt action and apologies."
Hatters boss Gannon was quoted as saying, of the incident: "It's unprofessional of Barnet. They're celebrating a season of mediocrity and I think the fans summed it up - they're a club going nowhere. If the highlight of their season is purely about gloating about other people's demise then they've got to remind themselves we're in the play-offs and we're a club that's made progress every year, not mediocrity."
Meow!