Former Wolverhampton mayor 'disgusted' at Sir Jack 'racist' comments
A former mayor of Wolverhampton has condemned comments that described Sir Jack Hayward as a 'massive racist'.
Councillor Milkinder Jaspal said he was 'disgusted' at remarks by Guardian football pundit Barry Glendenning who described Sir Jack as 'openly xenophobic', a 'massive racist' and likened Sir Jack's attitude to Adolf Hitler's.
Councillor Jaspal said: "I found these comments shocking and saddening.
"As a Sikh and a former mayor of Wolverhampton who met with Sir Jack I can say without doubt he is not a racist.
"It is not racist to be proud of who you are and where you are from. I am proud of Britain but I am also proud of England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Sir Jack did so much for Wolverhampton and Wolves as a football club does great work with the community.
"No one should be ashamed to fly the Union Jack."
Sir Jack died last week aged 91 and tributes have poured in from all over the world to the much-loved former owner.
The Guardian's Football Weekly podcast had paid tribute to Sir Jack in a week earlier and had received an email from someone expressing surprise that the tribute 'glossed over his being an appalling old racist bigot'.
Mr Glendenning has since apologised.
The Guardian also issued an apology.
It statement read: "In a segment about Sir Jack Hayward on a football podcast, the late Wolverhampton Wanderers president was incorrectly described as a racist.
"A reference was also made to Hitler which, while not meant as a direct comparison, was inappropriate.
"We apologise for any hurt or distress caused to his family and have removed that segment of the podcast."
