The Guardian apologises for Sir Jack 'racist' comments

The Guardian have publicly apologised for comments made by their website's deputy sports editor claiming Sir Jack Hayward was a "massive racist."

The national news outlet caused outrage with comments made by Barry Gledenning in a podcast, which also likened the much-loved former owner to Adolf Hitler.

Twitter was ablaze with Wolves fans fury as they reacted to the podcast.

After it was published online Wolves fans besieged The Guardian and Mr Glendenning to show their disgust.

Mike Glaze tweeted: "Absolutely disgusted by the podcast comments on Jack Hayward. Comparing him to Hitler and not being a footy good guy."

Matt Cooper added: "Absolute disgrace of a tabloid, Comparing Jack Hayward to a racist. You kind of morons give journalism a bad name."

Stephen Pearce called for a boycott of the paper.

Phil Mortimer said of the comments: "Disgraceful comments to mention the great Sir Jack in same sentence as Adolf Hitler. Would the same be said if he owned Man Utd?"

Twitter user Neil Weav called for Mr Glendenning's resignation and said: "You should hand in your resignation immediately. Disgusting and disrespectful."[/breakout]

It came less than a week after Sir Jack died in Florida aged 91, with the topic coming up in response to an e-mail.

The sender had expressed shock that the previous weekly podcast, which paid tribute to Sir Jack, had 'glossed over his being an appalling old racist bigot.'

Mr Glendenning said: "I mean he was a massive racist, but in an endearing kind of way.

He went on: "But at least he was open about it but, then again, so was Adolf Hitler and that doesn't make him a nice guy does it?"

Fans besieged Mr Glendenning to defend Sir Jack, with some calling for a boycott of the Guardian.

Mr Glendenning apologised for the comments the following day and added: "I'm very sorry I said racist.

"He was, by all accounts, a very nice man. He had some old fashioned views. He was happy to declare himself a xenophobe.

"Sir Jack was a great and generous man and a brilliant owner. I'm annoyed some Wolves fans now think that's not my view."

The Guardian, as a publication, have now gone on record to also say sorry for the incident, through their corrections and clarification editor.

Their 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."