SUTTON UNITED have released goalkeeper and goalkeeper coach Wayne Shaw after his altercation with Kingstonian fans earlier this week.
Shaw reacted to verbal abuse from fans ahead of the two sides’ Surrey Senior Cup game on Tuesday night, entering the terraces to confront those taunting him.
A skirmish broke out and the U’s have now terminated Shaw’s contract for his part in the clash.
He says he totally understands the club’s decision and is disappointed to be leaving Gander Green Lane on such a sour note.
He told the Surrey Comet: “I am sorry that it has ended this way.
“Worst of all I feel like I have let Paul [Doswell – Sutton manager] down when he needed my support more than ever.
“He has been brilliant to me, and that hurts me more than anything else.”
A statement announcing Shaw’s departure on the club’s website said: “It is with great regret and sadness that we must announce that Wayne Shaw’s position at the club as goalkeeping coach and player has been terminated with immediate effect.
“Wayne has more than twenty years of experience in non-league football and is very popular wherever he has played and also with opposing fans for engaging in the inevitable banter that accompanies his every appearance.
“The club acknowledges that some of the comments directed at Wayne were totally unacceptable, amounting to vitriolic provocation, however Wayne’s reaction on Tuesday was not acceptable and he has apologised widely for his actions but knows that he let himself and the club down.
“We would like to place on record our appreciation and thanks for the contribution Wayne has made to the club’s progress during his time here.
“We would also like to add that spectators need to understand that language and behaviour that would not be tolerated or acceptable in everyday life does not become acceptable just because the location is inside a football ground and that football clubs will be increasingly looking to see that spectators are accountable for their behaviour.”
