Recently retired Irish international James McClean says he ‘makes no apologies’ for joining in with fans singing about him hating the king.
Wrexham sealed promotion to League one last weekend and in the aftermath, some Wrexham supporters chanted about the Derry-man hating the king.
McClean (34) confirmed on Instagram that he joined in with the chant, ‘and I also sang it at the top of my lungs,’ he said.
“Is this correct? Absolutely and I also sang at the top of my lungs,” McClean wrote on Instagram, in response to an article on the Mail.
“Do I make any apologies for doing so? Absolutely not.”
McClean, who earned 103 caps for Ireland, has been the subject of abuse throughout his career having refused to wear a Remembrance day poppy on his shirt, during a club career that saw him play for Sunderland, Wigan Athletic, West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City and now Wrexham.
Wrexham defeated Forest Green Rovers to seal their second successive promotion in the English League.
McClean signed for the north Wales club from Wigan last August, and has since made 42 appearances for them, scoring four goals.
Wrexham are co-owned by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, who took over the club in 2020. Speaking on RTÉ’s Late Late Show recently, McClean said it’s ‘surreal’ to be ‘having chats with these mega-stars.’
“They could text you after the games, and it’s just like…I’m not one to be taken aback by people. When you do reflect, it is a bit surreal that you’re having these chats with these mega-stars,” said McClean on the Late Late Show recently.
“It is nice that they’re so invested (in the club.)”
McClean has consistently defended his stance over not wearing the poppy and said in the same Late Late Show interview that certain sections of supporters have been arrogant and ignorant towards him.
“I knew when I took the stance, there was going to be consequences… I grew up as a young lad in Derry with my beliefs, just because I became a footballer in England, doesn’t mean I’m going to change them.
“It’s quite funny, actually, because, there’s two sides to that history but, over there [in England], there is an arrogance and ignorance, where they are taught one side of history.
“They speak about the I.R.A, and this and that, as terrorists. We look upon the British army as terrorists, as well, because of what they inflicted in my home city, and throughout the north of Ireland.”
“They see themselves as quite arrogant and superior to us,” he added. “That has been the frustration for me. I understand their beliefs but I don’t go around trying to push my beliefs on them,” he said.
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