Bristol Rovers manager Joey Barton has apologised for referring to “a Holocaust” in post-match analysis last week. 

The former England player had used the phrase following his team’s 3-1 defeat to Newport County on Saturday, sparking widespread consternation.

“Clearly no offence was meant, but some people have rightly pointed out to me the use of the analogy was not correct,” the 39 year-old told reporters on Thursday.

He confirmed that the Football Association had contacted him this week following the incident. 

"So if anybody was offended by that, I would like to apologise for that. I think the FA were right to write to me and remind me of that.

"You hope to use better analogies in future, but it was certainly with no malice or offence intended to anybody,” he said.

Shoah educators reacted with anger earlier this week after Mr Barton said at the weekend: “I said to the lads during the week, 'the team's almost like musical chairs'.

"Someone gets in and does well but then gets suspended or injured. 

"Someone gets in for a game, does well but then has a Holocaust, a nightmare, an absolute disaster."

In a statement on Monday, Holocaust Educational Trust chief Karen Pollock slammed the “inappropriate comparison” and said that “a bad football match is nothing like the Holocaust.”