McDonnell backs Newry players and staff

Newry City manager John McDonnell feels his players and staff having nothing to answer for after violent skirmishes led to Saturday’s Irish Cup tie against Larne being abandoned.

McDonnell insists he and the club will cooperate fully with the IFA investigation but, having seen Raymond Crangle’s referee’s report, is unsure what the case, if any, against his club is.

Crangle sent off Liam Hogan and Alan Reid of Larne, before their manager Paul Millar was also dismissed and the match was abandoned with eight minutes remaining and Newry leading 2-1.

Larne have since suspended Anthony Lagan, who was pictured kicking Cullen Feeney in the head while the Newry player lay on the ground.

"Following a club investigation and the referee's report Larne have decided to suspend Anthony Lagan with immediate effect," read a Larne club statement.

"It is our hope that Newry City will take similar action against those players named in the referee's report."

McDonnell says he will be looking at the report in more detail tomorrow before talking to his staff and replying within the seven days permitted, but he will not be suspending anyone.

“We’ve nothing to hide, we did nothing wrong,” he said tonight. “None of my staff were involved, none of them.”

“If any players were involved I’d say it was definitely in self defence.”