Adrian Durham responded to a banner by West Bromwich Albion fans that appeared to be aimed at him following his claims about Darren Moore’s exit from the club.
The talkSPORT host launched a detail rant upon Moore getting sacked by the Baggies to imply that unconscious racism could have played a part in the club option to part company with their manager.
West Brom fans appeared to respond to Durham, with one tweeting him to claim it was a message directly to him, by unveiling a banner during the 1-0 win over Brentford which stated: “This club looks at the badge on the chest, not the colour of the skin.”
The broadcaster upon seeing the banner, claimed he didn’t say Moore was sacked because of the colour of his skin, before taking a dig at the Baggies fan for highlight the club’s form; as he stated that Moore achieved that kind of form in the Premier League.
As I said on air, Moore wasn't sacked because of his skin colour. He was sacked because nobody could picture him being successful. You haven't taken time to enquire or think about that. You all got offended.
BTW that's the kind of form Darren Moore achieved in the @premierleague https://t.co/MOOj20Tnb4
— Adrian Durham (@TheAdrianDurham) March 16, 2019
“As I said on air, Moore wasn’t sacked because of his skin colour,” tweeted Durham on his Twitter account.
“He was sacked because nobody could picture him being successful. You haven’t taken time to enquire or think about that. You all got offended. BTW that’s the kind of form Darren Moore achieved in the @premierleague.”
OPINION
Durham didn’t directly claim race was the reason for Moore’s sacking, but he did suggest the lack of successful black managers in recent seasons, made chiefs at the Hawthorns not be confident that he was the right man. While the talkSPORT host tries to dismiss the banner with another dig at West Brom, supporters were classy in the way they responded to his claims. Durham is entitled to his opinion as much as Baggies supporters are; and the fact they unveiled a simple banner with a clear message was a great way to show their feelings. While the debate about Moore’s sacking is still ongoing, since he departed the Baggies have secured back-to-back wins to remain comfortably in the play-off positions. However you do feel that the Baggies need to secure a new manager shortly, as it’s becoming make or break time in the Championship and they need someone holding the reigns.