Express & Star

Darren Moore was immediately convinced that Jay Rodriguez was telling the truth

Albion caretaker boss Darren Moore has hit back at Gaetan Bong’s claims Jay Rodriguez lied about racially abusing him with an impassioned defence of his striker.

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Jay Rodriguez. (AMA)

Moore has known Rodriguez for eight years because the pair were team-mates at Barnsley and has been convinced the 28-year-old is innocent ever since speaking to him immediately after January’s game between Brighton and the Baggies.

Rodriguez was cleared by an independent panel last week after the allegations were found ‘not proven’ but the fall-out from the case has continued after Bong released a statement claiming: “I know what I heard and I did not mishear.”

But Moore, who has campaigned for the Kick It Out campaign against racism in football, responded by saying Rodriguez is a ‘wonderful man with integrity and honesty’.

And he went on to reveal: “Instantly, after the game, we had a chat and he said ‘honestly, Mooro, I never said it’.

“I’ve known Jay a long, long time, I knew him a long time ago as players at Barnsley [when Rodriguez was on loan].

“I know the person he is. I’ve given you a character reference, and he’s every bit that.

"I knew then after the game. Rest assured, what he said was right. I believe that. Now he can move forwards with his career.”

Rodriguez has played some of his best football of the season while the allegations have been hanging over his head and he enters this weekend’s match with Liverpool after three goals in his last four games.

And Moore believes he has been able to focus on his football because his conscience is clear.

“When an individual knows – and he knows the truth within – you know you can rest with that,” said the caretaker boss.

“That’s really important. So he knew the truth, and he’s continued to play.

“His performances over the weeks have been very good and solid.”

The fall out after last week’s adjudication has continued thanks to statements released by both parties after the event, but Moore is now hoping to draw a line underneath it.

“The whole club has stood with him, we carried on and treated him no differently to anyone else,” he said.

“I can understand people wanting to talk about it, but it’s done now. We go by the FA, there’s been a full investigation, they say it’s not proven.

"We’ve put a line under it and certainly Jay has.”