The 71-year-old said: “Dealing with the modern media is difficult for managers and I’ve been lucky that I’ve integrated into all the different stages in my time here.
“It got me in a position where sometimes I don’t accept what you write and sometimes when you write nice things, I tend to dismiss it also.
“I’ve always thought you’ve had a terrible job, a difficult job with the pressure you’re under with modern television, the internet, Facebook and all the rest of the nonsense.
“But I’ve never held grudges. Even when I’ve banned people, I don’t hold grudges as it’s not my style. I react and then forget about it sometime later.
“Thanks for the kind words Neil, it was very good of you, and thanks for the time I’ve had here.”