August 19 2002

Alex Kolinko

Alex Kolinko is still waiting for an apology from Trevor Francis after the incident during the Bradford match last week and is calling for him to be fired.

Kolinko was on the bench for Palace at the weekend, but did not speak to his manager at all.

He said: "I like Palace as a club but this situation is a real problem for me. I want to stay, but it would have to be without Trevor. I don't know if that will happen.

"It is a very strange situation for me. It is just unbelievable. I would have been forced out the club if I had punched him.

"I'd have spent the next two days sitting back at home in Latvia watching TV. My career in English football would have been finished.

"Trevor wants to forget everything, but without an apology this is impossible. He punched me, although I definitely did not say anything or laugh.

"There is a lot of pressure on me. The manager is saying it was a joke and that he clipped me, but that is not the case.

"Everyone thinks this situation is funny but for me, it is not. I just want the whole situation to be sorted out."

This claim by Kolinko that he hasn't received an apology, contradicts Simon Jordon's statement that Francis had already apologised to his Lativan keeper.

Jordan said on Friday: "I have spoken to both parties and Trevor has apologised to the player because it was an inappropriate reaction."

Francis has commented on the situation again after the Portsmouth defeat.

He said: "What needed to be said I said after the game on Tuesday. He has gone off to Latvia where he plays on Wednesday.

"We wish him well and hopefully he'll come back in one piece. He'll be on the coach on Friday night travelling north to Coventry."

The PFA have been assisting in the matter. Their chief executive Gordon Taylor said: "We have been in touch with both parties. There has been a problem and we are trying to come to a full understanding of what the player wants.

"We want to get both parties round the table and see if they can have a working relationship."