Ian Holloway said that orange hats in the crowd as Swindon Town defeated Grimsby Town were not representative of the opinions of most fans.

Between 400 and 500 people were estimated by Wiltshire Police to have attended the Spirit of ’69 protest looking to encourage Clem Morfuni to sell the club ahead of Town’s 3-1 win against Grimsby Town.

The protest used orange hats as a visual and many were noticeable in the stands during the game, but Holloway said that he did not believe the number of hats were representative of ill-feeling among the supporters at large.

He said: “Whatever you feel you are entitled to feel that but there are so many more ways that you can show that these days.

“It used to just be someone in the local paper and a chat down the pub; it didn’t really get very dangerous then but now I have seen it split clubs apart.

“That one that has just left here [Grimsby] were split apart by it because two people were fighting over the club and I am not getting caught up in that again.

“I am asking everybody who enjoyed what they saw today to please come back and if you are not enjoying it then you have got a choice.

“If you don’t like me or the club or what we are doing then don’t come, I believe that I will get thousands who will come.

“If you are going to try and convince someone by giving them a free hat then I think that is an absolute load of nonsense.

“It was cold today, how many out there were real? If you get a free hat and it is cold then you are going to wear it, aren’t you?

“I might buy my own hats for everybody and say ‘Go on, put that on, you are an Ian Holloway supporter.’”

Holloway added that he wanted to see positivity from the crowd to help the players by showing them positivity.

He said: “I would like to think the fans are behind me anyway and if they don’t think that then they can come to my office and tell me why because I feel like I have made a difference.

“If I die tomorrow then I will be delighted with what I have done here.

“You are allowed your opinion, but you are not allowed to criticise as in my opinion, it does not help.”