Town boss Paul Jewell has hit out at claims that his post-match comments at Birmingham last night were sexist. The Blues manager was unhappy with assistant referee Amy Fearn, believing she should have awarded his side a second half penalty but says his criticism was taken out of context by some media sources.

In a statement to the club website, Jewell said: "I absolutely refute suggestions that my comments were made in a sexist way.

"The opening line from a journalist at the start of the press conference was 'I think everyone to a man thought that was a penalty' and I responded by saying 'but not to a woman', meaning the official that was on that side and didn't give the decision.

"I didn't suggest in any way that the official made a mistake because she was a woman. I don't think what I said was sexist and will argue all day long with anyone that says it is."

Jewell explained his subsequent comment 'I thought the lineswoman, or whatever she is called' by adding: "I have said that a hundred times before about linesmen. It's just a reference to the officials who run the line now being known as assistant referees.

"I have listened to the tape recording of the press conference and I've no problems with what I said. The comments have been taken out of context, which is disappointing but that seems to be the world we live in now.

Listen to the comments here

"I'm not expecting any comeback from the authorities and would be disappointed if there are but if that arrives, I will defend it vehemently and will have the full support of the club in doing that."

However, Alan Leighton, national secretary of Prospect, the referees' trades union, disagrees with Jewell's view: “These comments are clearly sexist and there’s no place for them in football.

“They show that women are not fully accepted within the game at the present time. It puts unbearable pressure on female assistants and referees who are aware that every time they step on to the pitch they are under special scrutiny.

“That isn’t going to be something that’s going to attract women to the game and that’s why people do need to take a view that they’re not going to make foolish, sexist comments.”

Photo: Action Images

Notts_tractor added 21:14 - Jan 12 What p*sses me off here is that so many idiots think they need to come on here and make cretinous sexist comments, and then blab on about "political correctness gone mad" and all that garbage. This "Politically Correct" world is a fantasy which exists only in the minds of rightwing arseh*les like Richard Littlejohn. Can't people see that it's the same people from the gutter press who are trying to stir this whole thing up?? There was clearly NOTHING sexist about what Jewell said, but because there's been a controversial incident incident involving a female official the media have to make a big deal about it. Now that's the real stupidity of this, and if anything has "gone mad" it's idiots whipping this up into something out of nothing.

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TerryButchersBandage added 21:17 - Jan 12 I have just seen Neil Warnock at KFC Cardinal Park and he didnt look like he was dressed to go to liquid. Paul Jewell is getting sacked in the morning!!!
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righty added 21:30 - Jan 12 Do hope your right JEWELL OUT
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WarkyWonderLand added 21:39 - Jan 12 Taking a step backwards from what he has been embroiled in today, we just need to ask ourselves Is PJ doing a good job as manager. The stats don't lie regarding goals conceded, goals conceded in the last 10 minutes, 2wins in 14. We are now on a run of 4 games without a win after previously going 7o without a win. His big signings of bullard, bowyer, jet and Chopra have been disappointing but it was judgement to buy them and only one of them started last night. He has had more resource than 90% of managers in this division. Football has moved on from 20 to 30 years as its a results driven business. He is now struggling to bring players in and he has even said that he thought the st ledger deal would happen. Very hard to see how PJ can pick these players up and get more out of them. Worrying thing for me is that we face a well organised Ian hollaway side on Saturday which is full of goals. It's never nice to see a manager lose their job but it is now critical and as much as PJ is probably a nice bloke that counts for nothing with the side he has put together and the tactics etc. Coyb

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J45 added 21:41 - Jan 12 Thank god everyone has PJs back on this on this it was pathetic h hardly did anything wrong it was taken completely taken out of context. Although it again deflected the focus from what was again a shoddy defensive display against birmingham yet another two goals shipped in. I juust cant see ipswich staying up on this defensive record. But the only way to turn things around is to stick together and get behind the team and PJ and have none of this neil warnock rubbish. Paul jewell is the manager and until that changes get behind him. NO BOO BOYS ON SATURDAY PLEASE!!!!! COYB!!!!

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righty added 21:54 - Jan 12 GIVE JEWELL AND CLEGG hell on saturday let them know that they ruining a once great club JEWELL OUT
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jocasaja added 21:58 - Jan 12 I agree with PJ - I also hope we get awin on saturday and he starts to turn things around - just need to find a decent CB from somewhere COYB
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Crock added 22:03 - Jan 12 Alan Leighton is an idiot.
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J45 added 22:06 - Jan 12 righty people with that sort of attitude arent helping anyone. How is booing helping. if results carry on the way they are then paul jewells fait will be decided by itself and you booing will make no diifrence so why not do what we can and get behind them. Instead of just making things worse i am sure players will be already low on confidence without all of there own fans booing.

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jocasaja added 22:14 - Jan 12 I fully agree - I LOVE my club and am as fed up with how things are at the moment but I still believe that this is a special club and will support whoever wears a blue shirt and whoever manages them - COYB!!!!!
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WarkyWonderLand added 22:15 - Jan 12 It's surprising that people keep saying get a decent centre half and PJ will turn it round. Let's not forget we had Danny Collins and Andrews in the team who scored 9 goals and still struggled. Our troubles and pjs go deeper than that. If only it was that easy.
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budgieplucker added 00:27 - Jan 13 Just seen Barrack Obama in KFC at Cardinal's Park, crikey the chicken must be good in that place if people are travelling so far to go there.
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yun added 01:07 - Jan 13 A load of guff and nonsense. Now how about getting us a couple of half-decent centre backs?
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Tractamatt added 01:46 - Jan 13 The real idiots are using this story to have further digs at Jewell and yes however people want to deny it we were only one decent CB and a femail assistant referee from beating Birmingham at St Andrews on saturday against another bloody good team try supporting the blues as opposed to hoping for a loss to further damage the manager. BACK THE TEAM OR BACK OFF
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ipswichtown28 added 07:45 - Jan 13 I'm totally behind PJ!!! What is the point in even having linesman (apart for offsides) they are absolutley useless! It's not as if they have much to do apart from run up and down the line and put there flag up. They are to gutless to make there own decisions and if you watch them at portman road tom they don't even put the flag straight up for a throw in, they look at the ref b4 making their own decision they are an absolute waste of space whether male of female! Having said that if your a woman in a mans game that's fair enough but u have to have thick skin and just get on with it. Is this the same women that keys and gray got sacked over???

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WarkyWonderLand added 07:58 - Jan 13 Reality check, we have lost 56% of games this season. We need to win at least another 8 games in 21 to be safe, that's the same number of games we have won in 25, much to the purple patch we had. After tomorrow we have Leeds away and west ham at home. This is down to the current manager and his team he has put together. That will be one hell of a turnaround. If people want to put up with this then there is only one way we will be going. An iffy refereeing decision is papering over the cracks and clutching at straws. Will always support the team as I have done for 32 years but not the current incumbent. He is taking us one way and is not up to it. Perhaps we should swap notes with derby fans.

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WorcesterBlue added 08:10 - Jan 13 Stuff and nonsesense re. assistant ref but still no signings, no sign of a plan and still no turn around in fortunes.
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roytheboy added 08:38 - Jan 13 Common sense prevails, good luck against Blackpool Paul, I'm confident that we can win this one.
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