Lawrence and Bennett...

[Manofpride]

I know of players in years past who were playing professional football to a very high standard who would now fail a breathalyser coming off the pitch after 90mins. Fact!

[Manofpride]

But what goes on in your head, is akin to Dianne Abbotts world of algebra.


Nice one Tricky

[Geoff Parkstone]

Fined 6 weeks wages each....

[macstheman]

Fined six weeks wages, required to do community service and club state that their actions totally unacceptable. Bennett issues apology to fans, family, friends and the football community and accepts the clubs punishment.
Finally the club wakes up!!!

[ramAnag]

Surprised at the community service aspect. Thought that would be for the courts to dish out although it’s still possible that they’ll go for something more serious depending on what the respective behaviours are actually proved to be.
Totally respect macs standpoint and the emotion involved in his perspective but, on balance, it seems to me that the club have got this about right.
They didn’t overreact, they didn’t pre judge, they took their time to reach a decision on something that still only happened about ten days ago and avoided the sort of knee jerk reaction that some in both the national and local press have certainly been guilty of.
They’ve also dispelled the myth put about by some, that footballers/celebrities are treated differently (less harshly) them more ordinary individuals.
I can certainly come up with examples of such individuals who, having been found guilty of d&d, have remained totally unpunished by their employees. As long as they were still able to get to work on time that was the end of the matter.
In this case both Lawrence and Bennett will effectively be being punished twice, firstly by the club and then by the courts. They will also suffer much more in terms of public humiliation than a more ordinary less high profile member of the public.
Again I’m not defending them and perhaps that’s how it should be, but I don’t think anyone can claim they’re getting off lightly or that the club are ducking their responsibility.

On a lighter note...Tom Lawrence hasn’t done much when he has been being paid. Wonder how much we can expect to see from him for the next six weeks.

[MadAmster]

6 weeks wages and 80 hours community service. Service I hope they continue once their 80 hour stint has finished.


I have to admit to being surprised the club has done this prior to the court case and had expected DCFC's sanctions to be published after the case on the 15th.


Rehabilitation has to start somewhere. The club has, bar a sacking, given the highest sanction possible under the terms of the contracts. If the courts decide to jail one or both on the 15th, they still could. Mason has to realise, and probably does already, that he will be under the microscope from here on in. If he gets spotted in town with half a pint of shandy in his hand, the papers will be full of pictures taken on people's phones and stories of how he "was off his head". That is also something he will have to learn to live with. He will also get a lot of stick from opposing fans on match days and he will have to make sure it doesn't affect is game. What the club's statement shows is only the starting point. There are wider punishments he will have that are not written down anywhere, such as what I have written in this above. This is Mason's starting point, all connected with him should allow him that.

Mason has put out a public statement, apologising for his actions and calls them exactly what they were, utterly stupid, completely wrong and absolutely unacceptable. Credit where it's due. Will we see similar from Tom? If we don't, I won't jump to any conclusions as the reason might be advice from his solicitor. If we do, I will accept it and let him move on although with the background to him these past 12 months he is going to need far more "TLC" than, I suspect, Mason will need.

Tom has me worried. He has taken the death of his Mam very badly and, if reports from around town are true, it hasn't improved his behaviour and demeanour any. In fact the opposite seems true. I think he needs a huge amount of help from the club for starters. He probably also needs professional help in the form of a shrink or a psychologist. His on the pitch performances following his day 1 master class this season don't warrant even a place on the bench. I shudder to think what effect being dropped would have....... IMO he needs a rest from football in order to get his head together and then come back ready, both physically and mentally, to play the way we know he can on a regular basis. I hope he gets the time.

[ramAnag]

Sorry...employers not ‘employees’.

Agree with that closing sentiment MA...although Giggs seems keen to pick him.

[MadAmster]

Sorry...employers not ‘employees’.

Agree with that closing sentiment MA...although Giggs seems keen to pick him.

1st line - Read that but understood the former was what you meant.

2nd line - It seems Giggs and Cocu had a telephone conversation about this. Although they don't say as much in what has been reported, might it be that they see keeping him involved as being a measure that stops him sliding further into whatever the term is for his apparent struggle to come to terms with his Mam's passing and the apparent negative effect that is having on him?

[ramAnag]

1st line - Read that but understood the former was what you meant.

2nd line - It seems Giggs and Cocu had a telephone conversation about this. Although they don't say as much in what has been reported, might it be that they see keeping him involved as being a measure that stops him sliding further into whatever the term is for his apparent struggle to come to terms with his Mam's passing and the apparent negative effect that is having on him?

Probably, but I think they’re both right to keep it private.

Tom Lawrence doesn’t always endear himself to fans...comes across as ill disciplined at times, not the greatest work ethic and a bit full of himself...but I suspect there’s a lot we don’t know.

[Geoff Parkstone]

MA, where did you see their contracts to know that the club has given the highest sanction, or was that in a press release that I must have missed?