Frank McAvennie apologises to Celtic’s Auston Trusty after fans highlight a key detail in new statement.

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has issued a fresh apology to Auston Trusty after facing significant criticism from supporters over his comments about the defender’s absence following the death of his father.

The former Scotland international had previously questioned how much time the American centre-back needed away from football after suffering the personal loss.

However, his remarks sparked an angry response from Celtic supporters, many of whom felt he had shown a lack of understanding and compassion towards a player dealing with bereavement.

Celtic hero Frank McAvennie

McAvennie has now returned with another statement, admitting that his initial response did not go far enough and directly apologising to Trusty and his family.

The controversy began after Martin O’Neill confirmed that Trusty was back in the United States following the death of his father.

The defender was unavailable for Celtic’s Scottish Premiership meeting with Falkirk on Sunday, which ended in a disappointing 2-0 defeat for the Hoops.

O’Neill had explained that Trusty was away celebrating the life of his father, with the club allowing the American international time to deal with the difficult circumstances surrounding his family.

However, McAvennie was unhappy with the length of time the defender had spent away from the team and made his feelings clear during an episode of his Let Me Be Frank podcast.

McAvennie questions Trusty’s absence from Celtic

The former Celtic forward attracted considerable attention after openly questioning how long Trusty should remain away from football.

Although McAvennie acknowledged the seriousness of losing a parent, he suggested that professional footballers still had responsibilities towards their clubs.

Speaking on his podcast, he said: “I’ve got every respect for that, but how long do you want off?”

He then referred to O’Neill’s explanation that Trusty had travelled home to celebrate his father’s life.

McAvennie questioned that decision, arguing that Celtic were experiencing difficulties and needed their important players available.

He said: “Martin (O’Neill) says he’s away to celebrate the life of his dad.

“Celebrate the life? You’ve got football. You’re getting paid and we’re in trouble. How long is it going to be?”

The former striker also made a controversial reference to what he described as the woke brigade, further increasing the backlash surrounding his comments.

He continued by comparing Trusty’s situation with his own experience following the death of his father.

McAvennie explained that his dad had been the most important male figure in his life, but suggested that he had eventually needed to return to normal responsibilities.

He added: “It’s nonsense. My dad was the best man, the only man I looked up to, when he died.

“But you’ve got to get on with it.”

Those comments quickly circulated among Celtic supporters, with many questioning why McAvennie had chosen to criticise a player who was dealing with such a personal tragedy.

(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

Celtic supporters react angrily to McAvennie’s comments

The reaction from supporters was overwhelmingly critical, with many taking issue with the former striker’s apparent lack of sensitivity.

Several fans argued that grief affects people differently and that there should be no fixed timetable for someone to recover following the death of a parent.

Others questioned whether McAvennie would have made similar remarks if he had understood the emotional challenges Trusty and his family were experiencing.

The backlash eventually prompted the former Celtic player to release an initial statement addressing the controversy.

However, his first response failed to satisfy a significant section of the club’s support.

McAvennie acknowledged that his comments had been insensitive and accepted that he should have expressed himself differently.

His initial statement read:

“I’ve seen some of the reaction to comments I made on the podcast about Auston’s absence from football following the death of his father.

“I can understand why people feel my comments were insensitive, and looking back, I should have chosen my words more carefully.

“Everyone deals with grief differently, and I certainly meant no disrespect to Auston or his family.

“Celtic need the big man back, and that’s what I was clumsily trying to say.

“I wish him and his family all the very best.”

Although the statement attempted to explain his intentions, many supporters felt something important was missing.

In particular, fans highlighted that McAvennie had not actually offered a direct apology to Trusty for the remarks he had made.

That criticism prompted further discussion online, with supporters insisting that acknowledging insensitive comments was not enough without taking responsibility for the hurt they might have caused.

McAvennie releases second statement and directly apologises

Following the reaction to his initial response, McAvennie has now returned with another statement in which he accepts that his previous apology was insufficient.

The former Celtic striker admitted that he had spent additional time reflecting on his comments and recognised why supporters had been disappointed with his first response.

This time, he made a direct apology to the American defender and his family.

His latest statement began:

“Frank here. I’ve had more time to think about what I said about Auston on the podcast and I know my statement yesterday didn’t go far enough.

“I’m genuinely sorry for any hurt I’ve caused Auston or his family. That’s the last thing I’d ever want. I’m not that kind of person.”

The fresh apology represents a significant change in tone from his original podcast comments.

Rather than concentrating on Celtic’s need to have Trusty available, McAvennie has now directly acknowledged the possibility that his words caused additional pain to someone already experiencing a difficult period.

The controversy has also highlighted the importance of showing understanding when discussing personal circumstances involving footballers.

Although supporters naturally want their club’s best players available for important matches, many believe family tragedies should be treated with compassion and respect.

Celtic continue to await Trusty’s return

For Celtic, the immediate concern remains the absence of an important defensive option during a difficult period of the campaign.

Trusty’s availability has become a talking point following the defeat against Falkirk, particularly with Martin O’Neill looking to improve the team’s performances.

However, the American defender’s personal circumstances remain the priority, and his return will depend on the situation involving him and his family.

McAvennie’s second statement may help address some of the criticism directed towards him, although it remains to be seen how supporters will respond.

Ultimately, the former striker has now acknowledged that his original comments and first apology did not adequately address the situation.

His latest message makes his regret clearer and offers the direct apology that many Celtic supporters had been demanding.