Micky Adams has apologised to Albion's travelling fans for cutting short the tour to Ireland.

Adams ordered his men off just before half time in Saturday's stormy clash with Longford.

He then pulled out of last night's scheduled game at Athlone, concerned his players' safety on the pitch could not be guaranteed.

Seagulls were outraged by the performances of referee's Paul Deering at Sligo on Thursday and Dermot Tone at Longford.

Almost all Seagulls' 100 or so fans only arrived at the weekend in time for the Longford and Athlone games.

Adams said: "I apologise to the supporters because I know they have come over here in their numbers and spent a few quid.

"But I'm sure the ones that were there on Saturday will agree wholeheartedly that it was the only option we had.

"I also apologise to the people, the players and the chairman of Athlone who this will obviously affect but I'm left with no option.

"If the safety of my players cannot be guaranteed we have got a problem.

"I don't ever want to see any of my players get hurt in games like this."

Seagulls have come to Ireland for the past three summers and Adams is not yet ready to rule out the chance of them returning.

But he added: "In the two games we have had I have clearly been disappointed by the standard of refereeing so it is something I would have to think about."

Richard Carpenter and Matt Wicks, the two players taken off by Adams after they had almost come to blows in the Longford game, have quickly patched up their differences.

Adams would not allow his players to speak to the press when they return to their training base at Ballygar.

But Carpenter and Wicks were clearly in good spirits, joked about what had happened and lightheartedly offered to pose for a picture of them making up for the Argus.

Adams said: "Things happen in the heat of the moment. They were upset at what they were seeing from the opposition. We tried to stay cool but it did not happen."

Tickets for Albion's home matches against Wigan (Division Two, August 18) and Wimbledon (Worthington Cup August 21) have gone on general sale.