Ayre gives backing to Suarez

Published Jan. 9, 2013 7:15 a.m. ET

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Torino duo Alessandro Sgrigna and Alessandro Agostini have joined Serie B promotion hopefuls Verona.

Statements published on the two clubs' official websites confirmed the permanent transfer of 32-year-old striker Sgrigna to the Stadio Marc'Antonio Bentegodi.

Former Cagliari defender Agostini, 33, has yet to make a first-team appearance for Il Toro and joins Verona on a six-month loan deal, with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.

More than 4,000 fans flocked to the Globe Arena to see the home side come back from a goal behind to pick up a vital three points in League Two on Tuesday.

Bentley said: "It was fantastic to see so many fans here and the lads certainly responded to it.

"We started off badly by going a goal down early in the game and things went a bit flat but, to be fair to the lads, they came back fighting and played some great stuff on a difficult pitch.

"There were some great performances and I am delighted Andy Parrish won us the game with his first goal for us which capped everything off.

"We were a bit nervy towards the end of the game but the crowd stayed with us and I am sure they went home happy. Hopefully some of them will come back again and support the club in the next few weeks because it makes a massive difference to a club like ours."

The fall-out continues to rumble on from the Uruguay international's handball for the second goal in the 2-1 FA Cup win at Mansfield.

Even a Methodist minister from the Nottinghamshire town has waded into the debate, criticising the "evil" of a lack of sportsmanship in football in general.

But Ayre, who dismissed claims by Stags chairman John Radford he was embarrassed by Suarez's actions, said the striker had nothing to worry about.

"There have been plenty of decisions which have gone against Luis this season," he said.

"These things seem to follow Luis around and it's unfortunate, but he has our full support.

"He's a fantastic player who makes a huge contribution to the club.

"Knowing Luis, it won't affect him as he's a very strong character."

On Radford's claims, Ayre added in the Liverpool Echo: "I was surprised when I read his comments because Mansfield's manager and players showed a lot of dignity after the game.

"It's nonsense to say that I was embarrassed."

Suarez's handball prompted Reverend Bob Jones, minister at three Methodist churches in Mansfield, to question the values of the modern game.

"I have long thought that the game of football suffers from two evils, too much money and a lack of sportsmanship," he told the Nottingham Post.

"I watched the game on TV and both my wife and I were incensed.

"On this occasion, the player I believe knew he had done wrong by his reactions following the incident, but felt he either did not want to do the decent thing or felt under too much pressure from what the team and manager's reaction might be.

"I accept the referee made the decision but the player could have been a real gentleman and owned up to it."