As both Cardiff City and the Football Association investigate multiple allegations of wrongdoing from former Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay and his work associate Iain Moody, we have yet to hear from the duo.
Until now.
The League Managers’ Association (LMA) have released the following statement addressing the allegations which emerged on Wednesday that Mackay and Moody -- the latter has since resigned from his position as Crystal Palace’s Sporting Director due to this and several other allegations thrown his way -- were guilty of sending sexist, homophobic and racist email and text messages.
[RELATED: Mackay, Moody in text scandal]
Cardiff owner Vincent Tan blocked Crystal Palace’s move to appoint Mackay as their new manager, as the stunning allegations came to light after months of legal battles behind the scenes. Mackay was fired by Cardiff last December, while Moody left the Bluebirds in Ocotber 2013, as Tan reportedly clashed with both over certain transfer deals and other issues.
In the statement below Mackay apologizes and tries to explain his actions, via the LMA which looks after the interests of professional managers in England and Wales. Mackay also denies the damaging claims and will co-operate fully with the FA investigation.The LMA wish to clarify the position in relation to recent reports and speculation regarding matters alleged to have arisen during Malky Mackay’s time at Cardiff City FC.
In the course of a search by the Club in early 2014 of 10,000 private text messages sent to and from another member of staff during Mr Mackay’s employment at Cardiff, in relation to other matters, it emerged that Malky had, it seems, sent a couple of one line texts that were, with the benefit of hindsight, very regrettable and disrespectful of other cultures. These were two text messages sent in private at a time Malky felt under great pressure and when he was letting off steam to a friend during some friendly text message banter. That said, Malky believes he could and should have conducted himself better on these two isolated occasions. The precise details need to remain private for the time being until any FA process is complete.
The LMA does not condone in any way any potential breach of equal opportunities laws but would also point out that out of over 10,000 text messages and 70,000 documents produced over a long period of time it may not be a complete surprise that some inappropriate comments can sometimes be made by employees, like Malky, working under great pressure in highly charged situations. If Malky has caused any offence by these two isolated matters he would, however, wish to sincerely apologise.
Malky finds it strange that these matters were only raised with the FA and in the media now, 8 months after his employment ended and the day before he was reported as being offered the opportunity to become manager of Crystal Palace FC.
Malky is also very concerned about seriously inaccurate and misleading reports of his alleged involvement in these matters in the media. It has never been alleged that he wrote any homophobic or sexist messages and he has confirmed that he did not do so. Further, there are incorrect and damaging suggestions that he sent a whole host of offensive and unpleasant messages that are simply not true and which give a grossly distorted and unfair view of Malky’s involvement in this matter. Malky looks forward to matters being put straight in due course, following any investigation of this matter.
Malky cannot of course comment on the nature of any conduct or communications alleged to have been made by others.
Malky has said that he will be fully co-operating with any FA investigation and that he looks forward to putting the record straight thereafter.Follow @JPW_NBCSports