Craig Brown has urged fans to accept Colin Calderwood's apology over remarks made about Phil O'Donnell.
Motherwell manager does not want any ill feeling
Craig Brown has urged Motherwell's fans to accept Colin Calderwood's apology over remarks made following the death of Phil O'Donnell.
Calderwood's Hibernian welcome Motherwell to Easter Road on Saturday as both sides look for three crucial points in the SPL.
But Calderwood has had to say sorry before the match over comments he made after refusing to hold a minute's silence for O'Donnell while Nottingham Forest manager.
Clubs across Britain paid tribute to O'Donnell in the days following the death of the Motherwell captain, who collapsed during a game against Dundee United on 29th December, 2007.
But Calderwood felt a tribute was inappropriate before Forest's home match with Huddersfield.
He was quoted as saying at the time: "Sometimes it needs to be a bit closer to home. The fact that it was a boy in Scotland, does that make it any different to a boy in Colombia?"
However the former Scotland defender felt his words had been taken out of context and apologised for the offence they caused.
Emotional
Brown, who handed Calderwood all of his 36 international caps, said: "I ask the Motherwell fans to respect Colin's apology. He has made a full and unqualified apology.
"I know the nature of the guy and I really feel he wouldn't have meant any ill towards Phil and his family. He played with Phil after all.
"I too selected Phil for the Under-21 and the national team. I get emotional talking about him as you would understand.
"Please accept the apology and bear no ill will. You create a further sadness to the family when you highlight anything like that.
"The best thing is to let it rest and accept Colin's apology because I know how sincere it is."
Worry
Calderwood, who took over at Easter Road last month, said: "It's something that has obviously caused offence and for that I can only apologise.
"I played with Phil and I apologise, especially to his family. They are the ones we should always show respect to.
"If it caused them any distress that would worry me greatly and I apologise to them now."
