Temisan Williams, a former academy coach who worked at Arsenal, Tottenham and Fulham, has issued a public apology to Robert Dowman following accusations of "attempted self-promotion" over claims about his involvement in teenage sensation Max Dowman's footballing journey. The apology came after Williams appeared on talkSPORT to discuss the 16-year-old's breakthrough, prompting a furious reaction from the player's father. Writing on X, Williams stated: "Following Rob Dowman's comments today: I have spoken with Rob Dowman and apologised to him and his family." He added: "Going forward, I will not be discussing Max Dowman's development. I wish Rob Dowman and his family nothing but continued success." TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The public row erupted in the aftermath of Dowman's stunning Premier League debut at the weekend. The young attacking midfielder captured headlines on Saturday when he played a pivotal role in Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Everton, a result that extended Mikel Arteta's side's advantage over Manchester City to nine points at the Premier League summit. Having trained alongside Arsenal's senior squad since the age of 14, Dowman entered the match as a substitute and contributed to Viktor Gyokeres' goal in the 89th minute. He then sealed the win with a breakaway strike deep into stoppage time, etching his name into the record books as the Premier League's youngest ever goalscorer. The remarkable performance sparked widespread acclaim, with former England captain John Terry drawing comparisons between the teenager and Barcelona legend Lionel Messi. Robert Dowman, however, responded with fury on social media, dismissing Williams' claims about contributing to his son's development. LATEST SPORTS NEWS: Luke Humphries calls for big change to darts as he explains 'not chasing' Luke Littler 10 reasons Bruno Fernandes is the best player in the Premier League after Man Utd win over Aston Villa Tennis commentator makes Aryna Sabalenka blunder in front of thousands "Listening to this guy Temisan Williams claiming he was any part of Max's journey is a really sad piece of attempted self-promotion," the father wrote on X. He revealed this was not the first time he had confronted Williams over such claims, stating: "I have asked him previously to refrain from doing so but still he pops up on talkSPORT this morning." Dowman Snr's recollection of Williams' role was scathing: "I remember him putting the cones out at training a few times but that's about it." In a separate exchange with a media producer, he went further, describing Williams' assertions as "verging on fraud" and warning that the coach would "prey on parents chasing the dream for their children" by promoting himself under "false pretences." During his talkSPORT appearance alongside Ally McCoist and Gabby Agbonlahor, Williams had described himself as the Under 12s assistant coach who observed Max over a two-year period, which he characterised as "a small part of his journey." "Max has always had that super-strength of being able to carry the ball. It's always been something he has enjoyed and something he's strong at," Williams told the breakfast show. Despite praising the teenager and his family, Williams also cautioned against excessive hype surrounding the youngster. "We definitely need to calm down," he said. "We've seen some crazy comparisons. He's not even started his career and he's being compared to those who are legends of the game." Williams noted that Dowman remained grounded and was progressing well in Arsenal's Under 21s under Max Porter. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter