Blackburn Rovers players have revealed how "shocked" they were at "disrespectful" comments made by global advisor Shebby Singh about winger Morten Gamst Pedersen.
Singh labelled Pedersen, 30, who has played for the club since 2004, a "pensioner" and even said manager Steve Kean would be sacked if the club lost their opening three games of the season.
The latest in a long line of farcical incidents to blight the club under the Venky's ownership, the players released a statement via the PFA to voice their unity against Singh.
"We share their considerable disappointment that anyone connected to Blackburn Rovers would make such disrespectful comments about a player like Morten Gamst Pedersen," the statement read. "The feeling within the squad is that as a group of players they support each other but particularly someone like Morten who is so respected within the Club and indeed the game.
Personal criticism of this nature is never acceptable and the players are shocked that someone from within their club has seen fit to make such comments.
"Whilst accepting that anyone can have an opinion on football, someone in such a position of responsibility should be more mindful of the comments he makes."
Singh is also advised to "be mindful of bringing the game and the club into disrepute" while the squad members questioned the validity of his apology this week after he implied he was "too honest for his own good".