Dark forces at work, claims Keys

RICHARD KEYS last night quit as Sky’s football anchorman after claiming “dark forces” were at work in the sexism scandal that had already cost fellow presenter Andy Gray his job.

Keys apologised yesterday for making disparaging remarks about female assistant referee Sian Massey but insisted he was prevented from making his apology public.

Keys said in a statement released by Sky Sports: “I am deeply sorry for my remarks and the offence they have caused; it was wrong and should not have happened. I have thought long and hard and reached the decision that it is time to move on.

“Going forward without Andy would have been almost impossible.”

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “It is disappointing that Richard’s career at Sky should end in these circumstances. However, Richard recognises that his comments at the weekend were unacceptable and we note that he has made a full and public apology. We thank him for his time in helping make Sky Sports the success it is today.’’

Keys had earlier suggested some within Sky Sports have been working against him. Two damaging video clips apparently obtained internally have been posted on the internet this week.

Keys said: “There are some dark forces at work here.

“I rang Sian on Sunday and apologised. I realised how deeply wrong we were. Having done that I asked ‘could we make people aware that of that fact we had a conversation and that both parties felt it was right to move on’. I was told ‘no’. I don’t know why I was told ‘no’ and stopped from telling people what I had done.”

Gray was sacked on Tuesday after a video clip showed him making inappropriate remarks to another presenter, Charlotte Jackson.

Keys suggested that his and Gray’s high profile may have led to the pair making enemies.

“With success comes envy,” he added. “The clips you have seen are fairly selective. They have targeted two individuals. “If off-air conversations were made public then there would be no one left working in the country.”

Keys said he had also tried to ring West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady to apologise for sexist remarks he made about her but she had not returned his call.

He said: “I tried to ring her twice to say sorry and she didn’t take my call, I don’t know why.’’

However an angry Brady hit back at Keys’ remarks last night.

She said: “Perhaps Richard thought I was too busy making the tea and washing up to take his call. This is not about an apology to me, but about an apology to all women. Richard represents views that myself and those who work in the business of football find totally dinosaur.”

The latest video clip to come to light was of Keys making derogatory remarks about a former girlfriend of Jamie Redknapp, and he admitted the comments had been “shocking, horrible, out of order, old-fashioned, behavioural problems that need to be attended to”.

Gray yesterday claimed he had intended to publicly apologise on Monday night.

He said in a statement: “I am very sorry that certain comments made by me have caused offence. Such comments were made off air to work colleagues, and were of course never intended to be broadcast. It was my intention to apologise on Monday night when I was back on air for the Bolton v Chelsea game. Sadly I was unable to do so as I was suspended from the show by Sky Sports and have now been sacked.

“Football is my life and I am devastated by losing the job that I love.’’