BY LUCY CAULKETT
Sunderland CEO, Margeret Byrne, is under fire after it emerged that the club knew everything about the admissions of convicted PEdophile, Adam Johnson, but continued to let him play.
Club fans and associates yesterday took to twitter to vent their anger at the club for exposing young children to the player who only days before his trial was signing autographs for children.
28 year old Johnson was suspended by the club last March but allowed to return just 16 days later, even after his serious admissions about what happened. More disgraceful is the revelation that Johnson’s legal team gave copies of the 834 Whatsapp messages he exchanged with the victim- a 15-year-old Sunderland season ticket holder, to the Sunderland CEO Margaret Byrne in May 2015. The club only took steps to sack Sunderland after entering guilty pleas to two charges at the start of his trial last month. They had no choice by then, but the delay is a telling reflection of their lack of integrity and low moral standards.
Leslie Riddle- a mum of a Sunderland female fan- launched a scathing attack on the club by posting a damning judgement against them.
“Sunderland has always been a family club and I have trusted that my teenage daughter (season ticket holder) was safe there.”
“Apparently the players’ reputation is more important than safeguarding children. She [Margaret Byrne] had full knowledge and should leave.
In relation to his eventual sacking, she added: “It seems too little too late for me I’m afraid, I understand his teammates supporting him until this came out but now we know the club knew the extent of what went on and how closely implicated they are in it all is a disgrace.
“That lass was vilified and the club supported that by allowing him to continue to play while they had access to that evidence. I just hope to god they made sure he wasn’t out signing shirts!!!
“I’m so disappointed with the lot of em.”
NONESENSE
Sunderland yesterday said they “refuted in the strongest possible terms” any suggestion the club knew Johnson intended to enter guilty pleas at the start of his trial. “The club felt that the decision to suspend was appropriate at that time, even though he had not then been charged with any offence. Two weeks later, his suspension was lifted after a meeting with the Professional Footballers’ Association.“The club took legal advice and reached this decision only after carrying out a safeguarding assessment and liaising with relevant agencies.”
What nonsense are they talking about? Provided they received copies of the 834 what’s App messages between Johnson and the under age girl, that should have been enough to command a sacking. How shameful! They put money and name ahead of dignity and integrity, now fans want their CEO to resign. We think she should go too, because anybody who was aware of Johnson’s unacceptable conduct and allowed him to continue playing, has implicitly condoned it. Johnson told the trial that the club knew everything about his admissions. ”They knew from the start everything that had gone on”, he said
STUPID
Johnson at 28 is one of the most stupid individuals, for him to leave such incriminating evidence on the phone of as young girl. The trial heard at one stage how he sent a picture of his groin to the 15 year old. How daft and perverted!
Now supporters are demanding Mrs Byrne explain why the club didn’t take action against Johnson as soon as he confessed. Johnson admitted he had taken a liking to her since she was 14. She was one of his hard core fans who often waited after matches for an autograph from him. She even had his name at the back of her shirt. Her name was repeatedly put online, though Sunderland police has promised to prosecute anyone who reveals her name especially as she has been granted anonymity with respect to this particular case.
One wrote: “By knowing and allowing him to play is condoning his actions. . Bye bye board – every one inc owner.”
Another added: “If it transpires that the club DID have knowledge prior to the trial then it’s not just Byrne who has to go!!”
“How can Margart Byrne get away with dragging our name into the mud and not get sacked? RT if she should go!,” wrote another on Twitter. These are fair comments, because one would expect more from a female qualified solicitor. I mean what was she thinking?
GOODBYE
Adam Johnson- a remarkable player for his club- was told by the Judge to kiss his daughter goodbye because he won’t be seeing her for a long time. He is looking at between 5 and 10 years, though I fail to see why he should be bailed until sentencing. He really should have been taking straight to the cells because the shame of this could make him suicidal. He asked for it though.
