HOW MOYES TRIED TO WRIGGLE OUT OF IT YESTERDAY

Excerpts from yesterday’s Sunderland press conference: Reporter: Why did you say what you did? Moyes: It was the heat of the moment. The business we’re in, sometimes you only have seconds to think and answer. So, you know, it was the wrong thing to do. But that particular language, threatening to slap someone, how regrettable was that? I have said I regret it. I have spoken to the girl, who I apologised to. She accepted it. The Shadow Sports Minister has called for you to resign. Did you ever consider that? No, never a consideration. So you think you can survive this? Yes. It is something which is out of character. I’ve apologised to the girl. She was fine, she accepted it. Do you think it will cost you your job? No. Gary Lineker has tweeted that it has highlighted the tendency for managers to treat interviewers with utter disdain, it’s inexcusable. Do you agree with that? No, I don’t agree. In the heat of the moment, sometimes the questions come in and you can answer them wrongly. You don’t always say the right things. When there are groups trying to get more women involved in the professional game, do you think that kind of comment is a deterrent? I think if you look at my history, I have actually been one of the biggest ones campaigning for women’s football. I tried to make sure we had Everton Ladies. At Manchester United, I was very keen on them having one. But there will be anger about this. Yes, there will be. As I said, I deeply regret it and I’ve apologised, which I was right to do. Will this distract from the football? No, because as I’ve said, it was two or three weeks ago. For some reason, it’s been brought up now. Do you still want to carry on? Yes, I want to do the job and I want to get it right. There’s been a lot of difficulties, but I want to be here. This club has not been winning often enough for a long time now. There are examples of Ron Atkinson and Malky Mackay, is there a concern this could escalate to that level? No. I think you all know my character, you know who I am.