Barry Bennell pleads guilty

[randomclaret2]

Dario Gradi...who'd have thought it eh ?

[UpTheBeehole]

More about Gradi:

Dario Gradi: Ex-employee claims Crewe Alex asked him to wipe pornography from then-manager's computer

A former Crewe Alexandra employee claims that in 2001 he was asked by a senior official at the club to help wipe pornography off the home computer of then-manager Dario Gradi, the BBC has learned.

According to a statement given to the NSPCC in 2011, the man - who does not want to be identified - was told that Gradi had been hosting a group of young Irish Under-13 players at his house and they had been viewing the material on his computer.

He says he was "amazed" that Gradi was allowed to host boys "in this manner", especially after Crewe's former youth coach Barry Bennell had been convicted of child sex crimes in 1994 - and again in 1998.

The man told the NSPCC "it all seemed odd" and he raised his concerns with the club's chairman John Bowler, but he dismissed the behaviour as "quirky and nothing more".

In 2011 the former employee reported his "concerns" about the alleged incident - which occurred in July 2001 - to the NSPCC and also spoke to Cheshire police.

In November 2016 after fresh allegations were made about Bennell, the former employee contacted the NSPCC for a second time, and again spoke to the police.

When approached by the BBC and asked to confirm what steps to safeguard young players had been taken after Bennell's 1994 and 1998 convictions, Crewe declined to comment.

In a statement, Cheshire Police told the BBC: "In December 2012 Cheshire Police received reports regarding concerns about material on a computer.

"Following enquiries, it was established that no criminal activity had taken place. The person who made the report was updated at the time."

Earlier this month, former Manchester City and Crewe coach Bennell was found guilty of 50 counts of historical child sexual abuse and sentenced to 31 years in prison.

Gradi - now director of football - was suspended by the FA in late 2016.

He and Crewe have always maintained they did not know about any abuse by Bennell until allegations surfaced in 1994, and did not receive a complaint of sexual abuse by him.

The informant - who is now aged 47 and no longer works in football - has now approached the FA's independent Sheldon Inquiry into allegations of child sex abuse in football.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43211929

[ClaretTony]

They held a Q&A night at Crewe last night but they increased security on the door to try and keep out any journalists. John Bowler basically refused to answer some questions on this subject.

If they have nothing to hide then they need to stop saying NO COMMENT, they need to be opening their doors and they need to be holding a full internal investigation. Until they do, Bowler & Gradi will continue to be under scrutiny, and rightly so given what's happened.

[Sidney1st]

I'm finding this all just a bit grim.

For years plenty of people, myself included, have used their academy system as an example of how one can, with work, generate a number of good solid first team players.
Then all this comes out and it just makes you wonder how far this goes.

As for Bennell, in the 90's my brother was scouted by City and invited for a trial.
In light of what's come out, thankfully he broke a collar bone which didn't heal correctly, or he could've been at City the same time as Bennell...


Guardian article about last nights meeting.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... a-football" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ClaretTony]

One Crewe fan has decided enough is enough - must be so difficult to write like this about your own club

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ry-bennell" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Sidney1st]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/sports ... Gradi.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

More about Gradi.

[ClaretTony]

And an appalling, shameful statement from Crewe

https://www.crewealex.net/news/2018/mar ... bennell-2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[welsbyswife]

I agree, that's a shocking statement. 99% covering their own backs and then a throw away line at the end to say they are sorry for what happened. Regardless of whether Gradi or others knew what was going on the club doesn't even seem to have asked itself the basic question of how it could have happened or how it managed to create a culture where so many youngsters had no-one to turn to to report the abuse. It's amazing to think that Crewe was held up as a shining example of how to bring through young talent at the time all this was going on.

[Hipper]

And an appalling, shameful statement from Crewe

https://www.crewealex.net/news/2018/mar ... bennell-2/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I don't know what you expect them to say in public.

If they admit anything the club will be destroyed - they will be sued to bankruptcy.

[ClaretTony]

I agree, that's a shocking statement. 99% covering their own backs and then a throw away line at the end to say they are sorry for what happened. Regardless of whether Gradi or others knew what was going on the club doesn't even seem to have asked itself the basic question of how it could have happened or how it managed to create a culture where so many youngsters had no-one to turn to to report the abuse. It's amazing to think that Crewe was held up as a shining example of how to bring through young talent at the time all this was going on.

It's one of the most blatant covering back statements I've ever seen. In most walks of life, those in charge during the period when Bennell was there would show some common decency and resign but Bowler refuses to answer questions and Gradi has all but gone into hiding for the last 16 months. It all happened on their watch and it is about time they took some responsibility for it rather than hiding behind disgraceful statements trying to explain why they are no longer bothering with the promised internal investigation.

[Sidney1st]

I don't know what you expect them to say in public.

If they admit anything the club will be destroyed - they will be sued to bankruptcy.

They could always follow the example of City and Pep.
That's what's irking people, the stonewalling of this by Crewe.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 14376.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.mancity.com/news/club-news/ ... -statement" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[ClaretTony]

They could always follow the example of City and Pep.
That's what's irking people, the stonewalling of this by Crewe.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/foot ... 14376.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

https://www.mancity.com/news/club-news/ ... -statement" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The difference being that Man City have shown some common decency.



These are the comments on the statement from Andy Woodward, the first to be brave enough to speak out about Bennell 16 months ago.

“This statement speaks for itself,” Woodward said. “Once again the victims come last, after the reputation of the club. What has happened has ruined mine, my family and many, many others that played for the club as vulnerable children. I’m bitterly disappointed with their response, but I’d rather focus my energy on driving change, so no club can let this happen again, than dwell on the past.

“Crewe had a moral responsibility to investigate their own failings. Instead they seem to want to bury their heads in the sand and, if nothing else, at least people can now see the way the club operate.

“As far as I know, they have not asked to speak to any of the former players from this harrowing court case to learn about how this scandal happened and what could have been done to prevent it. A police investigation, looking for possible crimes, is entirely different to an independent inquiry being set up to investigate what went wrong and make sure it never happens again. For the many victims, this is just another kick in the teeth but, as shocking as it is, nothing should really surprise us about Crewe any more.”

[ClaretTony]

Crewe banned from North West Football Awards as push for them continues to get their heads out of the sand and carry out the previously promised investigation.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... all-awards" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Sidney1st]

I'm staggered that they're still seemingly doing the square root of nothing...

[ClaretTony]

I'm staggered that they're still seemingly doing the square root of nothing...

It's an absolute disgrace and it only leads to suspicions that they are hiding things when that might not be the case at all. Maybe the FA should give them a time limit and if they still do nothing then suspend them from playing football.

[BarstewardsEnquiry]

Seems like there is more to this

[ClaretTony]

Bennell is preparing an appeal against the severity of the sentence - absolutely staggering, please someone throw the key away and never let him see the light of day again.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... r-sentence" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Steve1956]

The mans arrogance is beyond belief,think the courts should be increasing what ever he got!

[Leisure]

Bennell is preparing an appeal against the severity of the sentence - absolutely staggering, please someone throw the key away and never let him see the light of day again.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... r-sentence" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Just more money for his legal team!

[TVC15]

Bennell is preparing an appeal against the severity of the sentence - absolutely staggering, please someone throw the key away and never let him see the light of day again.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... r-sentence" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Yes and whilst they are at it putting his lawyers in the next cell would not be the worst idea in the world !

[bob-the-scutter]

Well good luck wit that Barry......I suspect in 30 years time you`ll still be getting bummed in the showers by Mr Big who`s "In" with the warden.
Who`s dropped the soap?