PETER JACKSON confessed he was delighted to avoid a touchline ban when he appeared before Football Association disciplinary chiefs yesterday.

Town's manager was charged with improper conduct after a touchline bust-up with Bristol City substitute Lee Johnson during the third match of the season at the Galpharm Stadium.

At the time, Jackson was sent to the stand by referee Paul Taylor in a match which Town won 2-1 and it was feared he could be banished from the touchline for a spell, but he incurred only a £300 fine for misconduct.

"I requested the hearing and got up at 5.30am on a matchday to go down to London to defend myself because I felt I was innocent - and I think the verdict proved I was right," he said.

"The hearing lasted an hour and a half and the incident was replayed time and again on the TV for everyone to see.

"The referee and people from the panel had their say and I gave my version of events, along with my representative from the League Managers' Association, John Duncan.

"I'm glad the panel saw sense and didn't issue a touchline ban - that was important.

"Obviously they took into account my good record as a manager and the fact I'd not been before them in my six years in charge here, but overall they viewed there was nothing serious in the incident at all and I'm delighted about that."

Jackson got back to the Galpharm at 4.15pm.