Hull boss Brown apologises to Women's Institute for fracas

Mar 12, 2010, 17:36 GMT

London - Hull City manager Phil Brown apologised to the Women's Institute on Friday after dozens of their members witnessed an altercation between Jimmy Bullard and Nick Barmby.

The midfielders clashed on Monday during a warm-down outing near the Humber Bridge after Sunday's 5-1 defeat to Everton.

'I'd like to apologise to the Women's Institute,' Brown said.

'I didn't realise there was a rally going on there and there was apparently 50-100 women going on a march across the Humber Bridge and the incident was unsavoury, it was unfortunate.

'It happens on the training ground on a regular basis, under the control of the club, but it seems to have got out this time.

'The players have settled their differences now, it was back to normal on Tuesday and they are getting on with the job in hand, which is obviously the challenge of 10 games in the Premier League.

'These things do happen. I'm not condoning that kind of behaviour but it's an emotive game, it's a passionate game. Emotions do run high and certainly then the pressure is cranked up - which it is, we are coming to the business end of the season.

'It's a sign that they care. Nick Barmby has obviously got himself involved with Jimmy Bullard.

'They are big players where we are concerned and I'm looking forward to the response of the group and of the two players in question.

'We'll get on with it and deal with it. At the end of the day it has made headlines, because outside of the confines of the training ground we weren't expecting it to be swept under the carpet.

'We're big boys, we stand by our behaviour and have shaken hands and will get on with it.

'There are no fractures within the squad. This squad is united.'

Certainly the other players didn't seem to be taking the incident too seriously.

'I'm sorry because I missed it, I wasn't there,' said midfielder George Boateng. 'I would have paid to watch it.'