The guardian articles

[thnhouse]

Whether people knew or not, what can’t be dismissed is that it happened. An inquiry isn’t just to find out any blame, its to ensure such things never happen again. People could have sympathy for the club because such a person could have been at any club, but it’s hard when the prevailing attitude is to bury your heads in the sand and take the role of the victim. The statements from the club and comments from some supporters don’t come across very good at all. And that’s an understatement.

Our Media/P.R department has always been a joke and unfortunately I think it’s not done us any favours in this situation.

The police report should be enough to exonerate the club from guilt and I believe with the spotlight shone on the club if there was actual knowledge of Bennel it would have been brought out. Also I don’t think the board or Dario were ever so ruthlessly ambitious that they would have knowingly protected Bennel whatever class of player he could develop.

You’re right though, the club should definitely get a review of its protection policies and club behaviours now. It makes sense in attracting young players , keeping the parents happy and showing that we do take this seriously and don’t want to brush this under the carpet.

[Timmy58]

Our Media/P.R department has always been a joke and unfortunately I think it’s not done us any favours in this situation.

The police report should be enough to exonerate the club from guilt and I believe with the spotlight shone on the club if there was actual knowledge of Bennel it would have been brought out. Also I don’t think the board or Dario were ever so ruthlessly ambitious that they would have knowingly protected Bennel whatever class of player he could develop.

You’re right though, the club should definitely get a review of its protection policies and club behaviours now. It makes sense in attracting young players , keeping the parents happy and showing that we do take this seriously and don’t want to brush this under the carpet.

I suspect those reviews will have already taken place, and of course there is a greater emphasis on safeguarding these days.

[thnhouse]

I suspect those reviews will have already taken place, and of course there is a greater emphasis on safeguarding these days.

I'd imagine they have, but it's more about the PR from re-doing it and publishing the results.

[valefaninpeace]

I'd imagine they have, but it's more about the PR from re-doing it and publishing the results.

Also, not one person here questioned comments made in the thread about Dario and the allegations about **** videos. Ive taken a look at the fallout of what happened on here (and at times it seemed like the only people not talking about it were Crewe fans), but that’s when it just got bizarre. And that round of applause when bowler shut down any questions about it. You’ve got to surely see how bad that looks from the outside.

[MikeSB]

Also, not one person here questioned comments made in the thread about Dario and the allegations about **** videos. Ive taken a look at the fallout of what happened on here (and at times it seemed like the only people not talking about it were Crewe fans), but that’s when it just got bizarre. And that round of applause when bowler shut down any questions about it. You’ve got to surely see how bad that looks from the outside.

I would suggest valefaninpeace that you and your club have a lot more to worry about than **** videos...

In actual fact we have had many discussions about this subject since it started to come out and virtually all of us have agreed that the club could have been more open and been more proactive instead of hiding behind the usual we can't discuss it while the enquiry is going on.

The FA enquiry still underway seems unlikely to reveal more than an independent police enquiry don't you think?

The point has also been well made here that there seems to be a witch hunt against Crewe, while the like of ManC are getting of scot free in the media.

[valefaninpeace]

I would suggest valefaninpeace that you and your club have a lot more to worry about than **** videos...

In actual fact we have had many discussions about this subject since it started to come out and virtually all of us have agreed that the club could have been more open and been more proactive instead of hiding behind the usual we can't discuss it while the enquiry is going on.

The FA enquiry still underway seems unlikely to reveal more than an independent police enquiry don't you think?

The point has also been well made here that there seems to be a witch hunt against Crewe, while the like of ManC are getting of scot free in the media.

After reading your bizarre opinions on this, I think you need to reevaluate things a little. And crewe arent the victims here.

[Timmy58]

After reading your bizarre opinions on this, I think you need to reevaluate things a little. And crewe arent the victims here.

Mike is right (not often I say that) when he says there seems to be a witch hunt against Crewe Alexandra. Further emphasised by the fact that Manchester City were aware of the dubious nature of BB's activities and yet said nothing to CAFC about it. The forum on Monday night was a football related forum, not a criminal one and it was quite right that questions concerning the case were batted away and I imagine the applause was for the club sticking to the principle of the evening rather than being sidetracked by something there has already been an extensive police inquiry into. The written media coupled with the BBC seem hell bent on making CAFC look guilty when they have found to be otherwise. I hope this satisfies your curiosity.

[somersetcrewe]

And crewe arent the victims here.

Not at the minute but if this witch hunt continues, we could be!!

[bigroof]

And that round of applause when bowler shut down any questions about it. You’ve got to surely see how bad that looks from the outside.

Of course we see how bad it looks, which is why so many are fuming at the misrepresentation. Initially, someone from the floor broached the subject of Barry Bennell. He was stopped in his tracks by John Bowler, who explained it wouldn’t be possible to discuss this. That received a round of applause. The same fella accepted the explanation, and went on to express the view of many supporters, that this was an issue that was uppermost in supporters’ minds. That received an equal amount of applause. About half an hour later, despite most of us thinking that the issue had been dealt with for the evening, Graham McGarry, representing BBC R.Stoke, asked a further question referencing Hamilton Smith. John Bowler simply said he had nothing at all to add. That received the round of applause to which you refer, because we all felt it to be an unnecessary question in the context of the evening.

[gazan]

I've just checked and discovered that I may be mistaken in referring to Francis Lee. He sold all his shares (to Shinawatra!) so I'm not sure if he has any further links with the club.