Off Topic Adam Johnson

I envy you Neville for the beautiful world that you live in , when I look out it is not so lily white

 

I'd agree with the vast majority of that RAW. I think t would help Sunderland to pursue the matter to gain further clarity so that it was not a matter of 'he said, she said' but understand that they may wish to just wash their hands of the whole affair and not protact any assocation with him.

The vast majority of Sunderland fans are also blameless in this whole episode. There are a minority who sang the 'he shags who he wants' song and should hang their heads in shame, but I am not naive enough to believe that wouldn't have happened at any other club too.

 

Is that the round piece of wood with a handle on one end and a flat blade on the other ?

 

You don't need to live in a lily white world to condemn vile behaviour. Indeed, if you lived in a lily white world you wouldn't need to!

 

She was privy to very little if you read what happened.. he had only admitted that he had given her a kiss with no mention of it being a passionate one. The club (and I take it Margaret Byrne) followed the advice of the players union in lifting his suspension as it might have been seen to be influencing the case if they had banned him.
This is Johnson's crime and you really shouldn't be trying to score brownie points on it..

 

If anyone sat next to me had sang that they certainly would have gotten a piece of my mind..

 

I don't doubt it for a second mate.

 

I think we have to separate the world that we would like to live in and the world as it exists, I now am at the back end of my life and I cannot find words harsh enough to describe what I see , I had four sisters and that obviously determined my outlook to girls, how I wish I could take you back to those days for a short time, there were instances where my sister missed the last bus home and had to walk, never was there even a suggestion that they would be accosted, I myself walked from one end of Sunderland to the other at midnight two or three times a week and it never even entered my head that I would run into trouble

 

This is where I am getting confused about your posts fredor, and indeed the point you're trying to make. You appear to be saying it is wrong to take the moral high ground because it goes on all too often, and yet also that you cannot find words harsh enough to describe what you see. Nobody is denying the fact that the world we live in is one where evil bastards also live. However, that doesn't make what those evil bastards do normal. I don't believe AJ is the only 27 year old (or older) to have engaged in sexual activities with a 15 year old girl. That doesn't take away the need to speak out against it. It isn't normal behaviour and hasn't been for a very long time. I cannot understand why you find it so unpalatable for people to take the moral high ground on an issue like this. Maybe I am missing your point.

 

How am I trying to score brownie points exactly? I'm not going to gain anything from this am I? Margaret Byrne knew what AJ was accused of.(They were informed by the police which should have shown them the gravity of the situation.) Then MB was given access to the text messages. If that wasn't enough to set alarm bells ringing I don't know what would.

IMO the players union are a disgraceful organisation. They would defend a murderer if he had paid his dues to the union.

PS I'm not having a go at the fans. They obviously, and quite rightly, gave AJ the benefit of the doubt until he pleaded guilty. Our fans would do exactly the same. It's the fans I feel sorry for as they are the ones who have been deceived by their club.

 

The police only informed the club of the broad nature of the "allegations". Sunderland then suspended him immediately. The suspension was then lifted after they were informed that he was pleading not guilty to all charges and after taking advice from legal representatives and the PFA.
I honestly don't see what else they could have done..

 

So did Mackems let Johnson continue to hang around kids at the academy?

 

We all knew what he's was accused of, in the real world you can't act on accusations as it's quite often crosses legal, moral and ethical boundries. In this society it would have crossed all. We suspended him off our own back, then after a meeting with AJs Brief and the PFA, both of which were present to represent Johnson not SAFC, we remove the suspension. Do you think they were talking about the weather or maybe the legalities of keeping him suspended? Also the police did not give the club anything. Anything shared with the club will have been through AJ's side, they could hand pick what they wanted to show the club. AJ had the best and most expensive sex crime defence lawyer in the country. Do you really think Orlando Powell would share any evidence that would implicate him while he was maintaining not guilty pleas? No ****ing way, never in a million years would a lawyer like that risk his whole case doing something so stupid. Think about it man.

 

You are missing the facts a) his admission that he kissed her and b) the text messages. You don't have to be guilty of an offence for your employer to suspend you pending an investigation if they believe you have acted inappropriately.

 

If safeguarding issues were involved then the police probably would have shared a fair bit of information with an employer so that they could put the safeguards in place.

 

You are missing the point that the club followed legal advice and recommendations from the players union when they lifted the suspension.

 

I think the Charges and their relation would be enough trigger safeguarding. I don't buy showing case evidence would be necessary.

 

I have thought about it man! It's you who needs to take your red and white specs off and look at it realistically. Read their statement again. They sought independent advice, not AJ's lawyers. They knew exactly what they were doing and made sure there was no legal recourse if they continued to play AJ.

PS You've gone from saying 'I'll wait until the outcome before I make a decision' to now say 'Ah! but the club only knew a little bit of what went on so that makes them ok'. Pathetic really!

PS Have you changed your name to try to distance yourself from your previous stance on this?

 

Only you by the sound of it.

 

I know they are allowed to share what has been admitted and relevant aspects of what has been said in interview, at least based on experience with a member of staff facing charges for a similar offence in the past when I worked in a supermarket.