Honest Joe!

Lisburn Distillery manager Paul Kirk, a hero of mine from his days as a striker at the Showgrounds, falsely accused United manager Tommy Wright of influencing referee Arnold Hunter last Saturday to abandon the Carnegie Premier league match at New Grovesnor. The United supremo is completely innocent on this occasion as he was in fact about to make a double substitution when the game was prematurely halted. The referee did however consult the fourth official and he advised him to suspend the game as the safety of the players was in jeopardy. Sky Blue Sport took the view that the match result would stand, pointing to a misconception that a rule existed where if a game had passed a certain time the result stood, Whites manager Paul Kirk was of the same opinion, but probably for different reasons. Myself and the rest of the 'Sport team have since found out that no such rule exists or ever existed and the matter in fact lay firmly in the hands of the I.F.A.. The I.F.A. have since decreed that the match was 'null and void' and must be replayed within 28 days. In view of this decision and confirmation from the referee that the United manager didn't influence his decision to suspend the game, I expect Lisburn Distillery manager, Paul Kirk, to offer a full and frank apology to the United manager. Paul Kirk as a player was a big bustling centre-forward, he took punishment and he dished it out, but he was as honest and straightforward as the day is long and for that reason, I expect him to offer a quiet apology to the United manager. Anybody can make a mistake, but it takes a 'big' man to admit and Kirky is a 'big' man, after all 'honesty isn't only the best policy', it's the only policy!