MX23RW : Saturday, December 28 00:26:50| >> :120:6579:6579:

Mark Sampson vows to clear his name after being charged for racist language

Mark Sampson vows to clear his name after being charged for racist language
© Reuters
The Stevenage caretaker boss has been left "devastated" by the allegations.

Stevenage caretaker manager Mark Sampson insists he will fight to clear his name after being left "devastated" by a Football Association charge of using racist language.

Former England Women boss Sampson was charged by the FA in midweek after an allegation by a former coach at the League Two club.

Stevenage moved off the bottom of the League Two standings after a 0-0 draw at Walsall on Saturday.

Sampson said: "I'm incredibly disappointed that I've been charged. I said right at the outset that the allegation is false.

"What I will do is fight to make sure I clear my name and fight to make sure that all the evidence that needs to be seen is seen.

"I'm devastated, it's as simple as that. This is a situation which the football club don't deserve and they have been incredible standing by me.

"It's been a hard time but ultimately I'm completely confident in the evidence I'm going to provide and then the right decision will be made."

Stevenage had 16 shots at fellow strugglers Walsall but failed to register one on target and Sampson said: "We're not doing enough to finish these games off.

"We can't create the moments we're creating, have the good play we're having and not put the ball in the back of the net.

"To get away from where we are, we need to get three points on a consistent basis. If you do that, you pull away."

Walsall had the better chances to win the game as Stevenage keeper Paul Farman denied Rory Holden, Scarr and Josh Gordon before Danny Guthrie's stoppage-time 20-yard free-kick hit the bar.

The Saddlers slipped to 22nd, five points above bottom spot, and boss Darrell Clarke pinpointed the need to keep injury-prone ex-Newcastle midfielder Guthrie fit.

Clarke said: "If we can get Danny fit and keep him fit, that's going to be the key. He's a very talented player and he can unlock defences. His record speaks for itself.

"There's no one more frustrated than Danny at the minute. He's working hard, we're looking at his diet, we're looking at everything to make sure we can try to keep him fit on a regular basis.

"He's got that quality, that final pass, that final delivery and we need to make sure we keep him clear of injury. We're hoping for a big run of games for him now.

"We were within an inch of the crossbar from winning the game but Stevenage edged the first half, there was not a lot in the game, chances for both teams, it was probably a fair result.

"We will take the positives, we are unbeaten in five and we have to keep building."

ID:380391: cacheID:380391:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4014:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Darrell Clarke in charge of Bristol Rovers in September 2017
Read Next:
Darrell Clarke to take charge of Walsall in League Two
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Birmingham CityBirmingham20153237162148
2Wycombe WanderersWycombe21145246222447
3Wrexham22136333151845
4Huddersfield TownHuddersfield21133535181742
5Stockport CountyStockport22106634231136
6Reading2110473431334
7Barnsley229673131033
8Mansfield TownMansfield209472622431
9Lincoln CityLincoln228772826231
10Bolton WanderersBolton209472931-231
11Charlton AthleticCharlton218672520530
12Exeter CityExeter219392223-130
13Leyton Orient218492620628
14Wigan AthleticWigan217682018227
15Blackpool217683033-327
16Stevenage207581520-526
17Peterborough UnitedPeterborough2173113840-224
18Rotherham UnitedRotherham206591922-323
19Bristol Rovers2164111932-1322
20Northampton TownNorthampton2256112238-1621
21Crawley TownCrawley2154122036-1619
22Cambridge UnitedCambridge2145122137-1617
23Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury2143142241-1915
24Burton Albion2126131734-1712


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!