Man United mum shocked by radio outburst

MANCHESTER United fan Carolyn Southwell saw red when a radio DJ told her the club's supporters were "scum" - and then put the phone down on her.

Carolyn, 33, has now received a written apology from Southern FM after presenter Richard Reynolds' outburst.

Carolyn had called the station to request Simply Red's We're In This Together for her five-year-old son Oliver, also a big fan of the team.

She told Spurs fan Richard the song was in honour of Manchester United, who beat Juventus on Wednesday to win a place in the final of the European Champions League.

But Carolyn was stunned when he told her, off air, that the club's fans were "scum of the earth".

The DJ then added "another person who lives in Sussex and thinks they're a Man U fan" before hanging up.

Carolyn, of Bodiam Avenue, Lower Bevendean, Brighton, said: "It was not light-hearted at all - the guy hung up on me.

"I just don't think it is the right behaviour.

"He is supposed to be there to serve the community and the public.

"If I could afford to go to Old Trafford I would.

"It's the same as being a Mick Hucknall fan.

"Just because I haven't seen him either shouldn't disqualify me from being a fan."

When Carolyn complained, the station responded with a letter which apologised for causing her offence.

But it defended Richard, claiming their conversation had been along the lines of two friends sharing a joke.

Paul Kenton, programme controller, repeated the apology today and said he would ask Richard to write to Carolyn personally.

He added: "Richard has a very dry sense of humour and that's quite well known.

"As far as he was concerned it was just a bit of friendly football banter between rival fans.

"If she had said she was offended he would have stopped.

"There's a running joke about there being lots of Manchester United fans and hardly any of them go to Old Trafford.

"She may have taken offence to that. But he would not intentionally offend anyone."

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