Soccer: Warnock's Wednesday joke backfires

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock has issued an apology to Sheffield Wednesday after comments he made about his club’s city rivals.

Warnock jokingly told a reporter from Four FourTwo magazine, when asked what he would do if he were in charge of Wednesday, he ‘‘would buy some bad players, get the sack and then retire to Cornwall.’’

The Blades boss explained: ‘‘I clearly stated the comments were tongue-in-cheek and it would be no more than Wednesdayites would have expected of me. Owls players Kevin Pressman and Matthew Hamshaw were present at the time!

‘‘If it has caused Sheffield Wednesday any embarrassment I apologise totally but anyone who knows me will confirm I would have answered the question tongue-in-cheek.’’