Gordon Smith: Kilmarnock’s Steve Clarke should admit that he got it wrong over Steven McLean

Steve Clarke owes Steven McLean and his family an apology.

And having very publicly questioned his integrity, it should be delivered in a forum where everyone can hear it.

Don’t get me wrong. I like and admire the Kilmarnock manager.

If he leads his team to a top-three finish this season, he will have my vote to be crowned Manager of the Season.

Even if he fails in that aim, he will still be a very solid candidate to become the next Scotland boss.

His ability to get the best out of a group of players is there for all to see.

However, I think he got it badly wrong last Saturday with his criticism of the official in the wake of his team’s controversial loss to Aberdeen, in which three Killie players were sent off.

Bringing Steven’s father, Stuart, into things was a bad move.

Stuart was a former team-mate of mine, a Killie Hall of Famer with more than 500 appearances for the club, and a nice guy.

We also both played alongside, and got on well with, Steve Clarke’s brother, Paul.

Steve’s position is that his former team-mate’s son struggles to referee Kilmarnock matches because of his father’s history with the club.

It is quite an allegation, as was his insistence that McLean’s performance in the Aberdeen match was the worst he had ever witnessed during his many years in the game.

We now know he made the latter point straight to McLean’s face when shaking his hand at full-time because Clarke told us so himself.

Given the strength of the comments, McLean’s lack of reaction was remarkable.

He clearly did what the other man failed to do and kept his counsel.

Having made his point in person, Clarke could then have chosen a more diplomatic approach in the media interviews that followed.

With three of his players sent off – Killie have since successfully appealed against Rory McKenzie’s dismissal – he was always going to be asked about the referee’s display.

He could very easily have just said: “I will leave that for you to judge”.

Anyone listening would have known that he was not happy but he would not be leaving the McLean family with reason to be unhappy.

That Stuart McLean has not come out and had a go back at Steve doesn’t change the fact the manager should not have said what he said.

It doesn’t sit well and, as I say, the way to make amends is clear – apologise.

No one will think any the worse of him for it. Quite the contrary.

People who hold up their hands and admit they were wrong are given credit for having the courage to do so.

It would also go some way to taking the heat off him with the authorities.

Having hammered Rangers for their comments about Willie Collum, they will surely take action against Clarke in this case.

The rule with the SFA is simple. You can say a referee had a bad game and you will not be penalised.

Question their integrity, though, and you are in trouble.

The Association take a very dim view of the suggestion their officials are prejudiced against individual clubs, coaches or players.

Were that the case, the system would be unfair – at least in places – which would reflect extremely poorly on the governing body.

Clarke is unlikely to lose much sleep about their opinion.

Since coming back up to Scotland to take over at Killie, he has shown himself to have no problem voicing his opinion, even when that opinion is an unpopular or controversial one.

This time, though, he is not the victim.

Steven McLean is the one who has been wronged and an apology is required.