Gary Neville has upped the security surrounding his luxury Manchester Hotel after his "angry, middle-aged white man' comments sparked outrage for the former footballer turned businessman.
The retired Manchester United defender sparked controversy after revealing he had torn down a Union Jack near one of his building sites, accusing some flag-flyers of deliberately fuelling division.
In the days since his remarks, a noticeably larger team of security guards has been stationed outside the Stock Exchange Hotel, which Neville co-owns in the city centre.
Photographs taken this week show additional security personnel – reportedly drafted in from an external agency – monitoring the entrances to the five-star venue. The move comes amid heightened attention on Neville’s online comments, which drew both support and strong criticism.
Gary Nevile co-owns the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester
|GETTY
“I just kept thinking as I was driving home last night that we’re all being turned on each other,” he said in a video shared on LinkedIn.
“And the division that’s being created is absolutely disgusting – mainly created by angry, middle-aged white men, who know exactly what they’re doing.”
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Neville said the remarks were prompted by seeing dozens of St George’s and Union Jack flags fastened to lampposts as part of the “Operation Raise The Colours” campaign.
The 50-year-old, who has built a significant property portfolio since retiring from football, said he “instantly” removed a flag that had been tied to one of his own developments.
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Gary Neville's video has sparked fury on social media
|“Funnily enough, on one of my development sites last week there was a Union Jack flag put up and I took it down instantly,” he added.
“When I was driving to Salford City last night, I saw probably 50 or 60 Union Jack flags. And on the way back, down Bury New Road, where the Jewish community is at its heart, they were out on the streets, defiant, not hiding or in fear.”
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Neville’s comments were made just a day after a deadly attack at the Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation, in which two worshippers were killed.
Opening his video, he referenced the tragedy, saying: “Seeing the news last night and the news this morning dominated by the horrific attacks within the Jewish community, just a mile from here.”
Sky Sports chose not to punish Gary Neville for his comments
| GETTYNeville, who co-owns League Two club Salford City and has been outspoken on social issues, has not commented publicly since his video went viral.
Sky Sports won't be punishing their presenter or taking him off air, having adjudged that his comments did not breach their guidelines.