I condemn any abuse but Leeds fans’ chants were personal, insists Jones

The Wednesday manager has also insisted that he would have condemned the South Yorkshire club’s fans had he heard any offensive songs emanating from the home areas of Hillsborough during the stormy 1-1 draw.

On a sickening night for Yorkshire football, Owls goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was attacked on the pitch as a section of both sets of supporters indulged in vile chants about the child abuse allegations from which Jones was totally exonerated in 2000 and the murder of two Leeds fans in Istanbul during the same year.

In yesterday’s Yorkshire Post, United chairman Ken Bates condemned supporters from both sides of the Leeds-Sheffield divide who were involved. Bates added: “Dave should have criticised his own fans (for the abusive chants). By not doing so, he reduced the credibility of what he said.

“I do believe that Dave said a lot of things in the heat of the moment and, in the cold light of day, he may probably regret some of them.”

Reacting to Bates’s comments, Jones said: “While I have nothing but the highest regard for Ken Bates and his considerable contribution to football over many decades, I feel compelled to issue a response to his comments published.

“I must make it clear that had I heard Sheffield Wednesday supporters chanting anything of an offensive or abusive nature on Friday evening, I would have rightly and roundly condemned them.

“There is no place in football or society for vile chants of any nature and I endorse that view completely.

“But the abuse aimed at me on Friday was personal. It was also wrong, it was offensive and not the first time I have endured such abuse from Leeds United supporters. Why make it personal? Why were the chants aimed at me?

“I cannot emphasise strongly enough that I condemn any abuse of any kind from any supporter and I would stress that the vast majority of fans at every club in the country are decent and law-abiding.

“I have no desire to become embroiled in a tit-for-tat war of words on this subject and would now like to draw a line beneath it and concentrate on the job I am paid to do, which is managing Sheffield Wednesday.”

Owls officials, meanwhile, have been clearing up after Friday’s derby also saw seats smashed and used as missiles along with an advertising hoarding.

A club spokesman said: “While there was minimal damage in the home stand, there was significant damage in the West Stand, which is over and above what the club would expect from a game of any profile.”