SORRY SEEMS TO BE THE HARDEST WORD TO GET RIGHT

Apology made, but the Sunderland boss even manages to make a mess of that

DAVID MOYES issued his apology yesterday – the latest from a club all too familiar with on and off-the-field crises.

Even in his moment of being humble, and offering genuine “profound regret,” the Sunderland boss did not quite get it right.

Getting exasperated with the continued questioning he unintentionally threw light on the football industry’s often uncomfortable relationship with women. “As I said, I’ve apologised to the girl,” he added.

The “girl” being an intelligent grown woman employed by a flagship BBC show with the right to ask a pertinent question, without being warned she might get a “slap”.

The reporter, Vicki Sparks, has kept her counsel, never wanting to be the story or the subject of the Neanderthal backlash such a furore can create.

The same question, after the goalless draw with Burnley last month, was later asked by male newspaper reporters, none of whom were warned they would be slapped.

Once again it is Sunderland in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.

On the pitch, Moyes has failed to bring the club to life with a season of failure that is seeing them slip out of the Premier League with little fight.

He talks of the club wanting stability in the coach’s hot-seat. But late