Notts County players threatened to go on strike as Maurice Ross speaks on sacking

It has been said that Notts County players threatened to go on strike after Maurice Ross racially abused one of the club’s players.

A new Magpies claim emerges after the club’s former assistant manager Ross speaks on getting sacked for what he said to a Enzio Boldewijn.

Ross departed from Meadow Lane earlier this week after aiming the abuse at the winger during last Saturday’s draw at Altrincham.

Confirming his comments, Ross said: “We had a game on Saturday, an away game.

“In the second half I made reference to Enzio, a typically quick player.

“I made the comment that he was moving around the pitch like he was 40 years old.

“The exact words I said were, ‘He looks like he’s moving like a 40-year-old. What age is he actually? Does he have a doctored African passport?’

“I had no other intentions other than I was questioning the mobility of a football player.

“When I say it back now, I’m wincing at it. There’s no rhyme or reason for it, it was a clumsy and insensitive analogy.

“If I could take it back I would – this is a fellow professional and I have insulted his physical attributes. I feel sad that I’ve made a guy who is actually a lovely boy feel bad about himself.”

He went on to apologise and then said of his regret, adding: “I really hope he can forgive that flippant comment I made because it’s not a true reflection of how I am as a human being or me as a coach.

“I take full responsibility for it, I’m here to apologise to Enzio, who’s a cracking footballer, a cracking lad.

“I can only say sorry.”

The former Rangers defender is said to have made the insult in front of the club’s substitutes while Boldewijn was on the pitch during the second half, with the Magpies’ substitutes saying what was said to the Dutch winger, 28, afterwards.

Three of the squad’s players were waiting at the door of chief executive Jason Turner on Bank Holiday Monday to outline the depth of feeling at Ross’s remarks.

Players are “understood to have made it clear to Turner in no uncertain terms” that the squad would no longer be prepared to train with Ross in his post.

Turner, it is said, then called head coach Ian Burchnall to outline the situation with the manager then contacting Ross to tell him not to go into training.

Within hours of their conversation, Ross – who had only been at the club for five weeks – had left his post.

The former Motherwell coach, who was also a player at Wolves, Rangers and Millwall, leaves his role as at the Magpies after less than two months.

The club posted, confirming that Ross had left. A short statement read: “Assistant head coach Maurice Ross has this afternoon left the club with immediate effect.

“We will be making no further comment.”

The Daily Record report Ross as apologising. “During Saturday’s match at Altrincham, I made an ill-judged comment to a member of our playing staff which has led to my departure from the club.

“I deeply regret the comment, which is not a reflection of the type of person I am, and would like to place on record my apologies to the player in question for the upset I have caused. While it was said in the heat of the moment with no malice intended, it was nevertheless unacceptable and I’m devastated by the impact it’s caused.

“I would also like to apologise to the club’s board of directors, supporters & Ian Burchnall, all of whom I have enjoyed working with immensely. The club have handled today’s events impeccably and everyone at Meadow Lane has my full support for the rest of the season and beyond.

“I will be taking some time to reflect on my actions and learn from this experience before continuing my coaching journey.”

The club posted on their club website, confirming Ross had left. A statement read: “Assistant head coach Maurice Ross has this afternoon left the club with immediate effect.

“We will be making no further comment.”

Fans reacted after seeing that Notts County players threatened to go on strike as Maurice Ross speaks on his sacking…

Disgusting behaviour. He’s already been on @BBCSportsound since to discuss his “flippant” comments. No sign of contrition pic.twitter.com/MrmVcJusDW

— ? (@mcgrainsbeard) May 7, 2021

@trina_tcm1977: Good, we need to stand shoulder to shoulder and make a stance against racism, there is no room for it in our society and the sooner it is eradicated the better. Well done those players for standing by your team mate and not staying quiet

@MrKristopherAMS: Disgusting and I think it will be difficult for Maurice Ross to come back from this

@Johnnysmalls78: I’d have supported them, too. Well done to all involved in swiftly handling it well.

@socksandsly: Proper order by the players 👏👏

@TOPJBHOY: BBC Scotland trying to rehabilitate this character is sickening.

@JoeNBT: Better from the players

@gladamatim: Good old Maurice Ross. Sacked after 5 weeks for racist remarks towards his own player. Who’d have thunk it

@ohwhenthenotts: It was a poor decision by the BBC to give Maurice Ross a platform to talk about this so soon after it happened. It’s also a poor decision for BBC Nottingham to be publicising it like this. A bit of sensitivity towards the real victim in all of this wouldn’t have gone amiss.

@mgsevs: My club, my players, standing up for what’s right #proud

@eelsnikta: I seriously hope the FA ban him from working in football again. We need to stamp out racism so banning him shows the world they mean business.