please log in to view this image THE attempt to establish guilt or innocence in the case of Leeds United’s sale of Ross McCormack has taken so long that McCormack, who was never implicated for any wrongdoing on his part, no longer plays for the club he joined. In the meantime the striker has managed to go through 100 appearances and 42 goals for Fulham and a £12m transfer to Aston Villa, the commodity at the centre of a misconduct process which refuses to end. McCormack left Leeds for Fulham on July 8 in 2014. The Football Association was first notified of an illegal payment allegedly sanctioned by Leeds a few months later. It took until September of this year to bring the case before an independent regulatory commission and in the nine weeks since the evidence was heard, nothing. Ross McCormack. The accusations have been documented to death: that Leeds and their owner, Massimo Cellino, agreed to pay a fee of £185,000 to McCormack’s licensed agent, Derek Day, in the knowledge that Day would pass the money to an unlicensed advisor working on McCormack’s behalf, thus breaking FA rules. Leeds and Day are understood to have pleaded guilty to contravening agent regulations soon after they and Cellino were charged in May of this year. While United admitted culpability, Cellino chose to deny and fight a separate charge against him; an undefined breach of FA rules which the governing body declined to outline in any detail. His hearing took place at Wembley over two days in mid-September, before Leeds’ 2-0 win at Cardiff City and in front of a disciplinary panel headed by chairman Nicholas Stewart QC. Stewart is no stranger to FA disciplinary matters having previously handled the inquiry into the infamous brawl between Manchester United players and Chelsea staff in 2008, resulting in a four-game ban for Patrice Evra. Last year he chaired the panel which fined Jose Mourinho £50,000 after Mourinho, then manager of Chelsea, was found guilty of questioning the integrity of referee Robert Madley. Much of the evidence against Cellino was provided by Graham Bean, a former employee at Elland Road who held a senior management role during the transfer of McCormack to Fulham but was sacked by Cellino after a row over a rearranged game in September 2014, a few months after that transfer went through. Cellino’s legal representative cross-examined Bean at length and the hearing finished on the afternoon of September 16. Almost 10 weeks later, the matter remains in the hands of Stewart’s commission. The case was complicated somewhat by an unexpected disagreement between Bean and the FA after his evidence was heard. Bean, the FA’s key witness, said the governing body was refusing to pay expenses of around £2,000 owed to him and threatened to withdraw his statement against Cellino in protest. The FA is understood to have taken issue with parts of Bean’s financial claim, insisting it would only refund documented losses.
Former England footballer David White was sexually abused by Barry Bennell • Former Manchester City player says he kept ordeal secret for nearly 20 years • Two former Crewe players have told Guardian they were abused by Bennell please log in to view this image David White, seen here playing for England B in 1991, said: ‘I now realise the effects of Bennell’s actions were much more far-reaching than I knew then. David White, the one-time England international, is among the former footballers whose “life was torn apart” by Barry Bennell and is now willing to go public about his ordeal at the hands of a serial *****phile who worked in junior and professional football more than three decades. White, best known for his long association with Manchester City, was targeted by Bennell, the coach he had “hero-worshipped”, when he was 11, playing for one of the teams run by a man regarded as one of the best junior coaches and talent-spotters in the country. White’s story has disturbing similarities to the ordeals suffered by Andy Woodward and Steve Walters, two other former players, who have waived their right to anonymity to tell the Guardian how Bennell preyed on them when they were in Crewe Alexandra’s youth system. Paul Stewart, the former Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool player, has also come forward to allege he was sexually abused by another coach in the north-west from the ages of 11 to 15. Stewart, who began his career at Blackpool and won three England caps in the early-1990s, told the Daily Mirror it led to him turning to drink and drugs after he had stopped playing. White, whose career also included spells at Leeds United and Sheffield United, said: “Given recent press stories I wish to confirm that I was sexually abused by my former football coach Barry Bennell in the late 70s and early 80s – this abuse took place while I was attached to Whitehill FC Junior team based in Manchester. “For a number of reasons, and for nearly two decades, I kept my ordeal secret from my family and friends. While I believe throughout my football career I have come to terms with what had happened, I now realise the effects of Bennell’s actions were much more far-reaching than I knew then.” White intends to tell his story in a book, entitled Shades of Blue: The Hidden Torment of a Football Star. Joanne Lake, whose husband, Paul, played in the same City team, is collaborating with him on the book. “Last year I made the decision to gather my thoughts, reflect on my experience and tell my life story in my own words,” White said. “I did not set out to write a story about the abuse, but knew I would have to include it. “In doing so I have come to terms with the fact that Bennell’s actions influenced almost every event and relationship in my life. The process of writing the book became sometimes painful, always cathartic and incredibly liberating. I would like to say that I do not feel brave. “This is just my story and I am now happy to tell it because despite the profound effects of 1979-80 I feel like one of the lucky ones. “Circumstances took me away from the abuse before it escalated. I salute Andy Woodward, Steve Walters, and Paul Stewart for so bravely revealing their personal tragedies. The physical abuse they and others suffered was certainly more extreme and prolonged than my ordeal, and I cannot be sure that I would have their courage.” White, now 49, was a member of City’s “golden generation” that won the FA Youth Cup in 1986 and made his first-team debut at the age of 18, going on to play for them for the next seven years as well as winning an England cap in a 1992 friendly against Spain. The book’s publisher, Michael O’Mara Books, said: “David’s parents had given this coach their blessing, believing that his attentions would hugely benefit their son’s football progress. They were, however, utterly unaware that this popular, 20-something, highly regarded coach – who David hero-worshipped – was in fact a prolific and predatory *****phile.” Bennell, who coached leading junior teams in Manchester, Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire, helped to bring through several first-team players at Maine Road as well as various other international footballers at other clubs. Now 62, he was sentenced to nine years in prison in 1998 after admitting 23 specimen charges of sexual offences against six boys aged nine to 15, with another 22 offences left on file. He previously served a four-sentence in Florida for offences against a boy on a football tour and was jailed for two years in May 2015 for molesting a 12-year-old in Macclesfield in 1980. He is currently out on licence and believed to be living in Milton Keynes. Eleven people have contacted Cheshire police on the back of Woodward’s interview when the former Crewe, Bury and Sheffield player revealed he had been sexually abused for several years, from the age of 11, by a man described by the American authorities as having “almost an insatiable appetite” for young boys.
Morning Elland and all. And more breaking news, Cellinos Italian stadium trial has been deferred again. As I said elsewhere, with Villa game likely to be another sellout, its a pity were not making any progress
its a risk I am prepared to take. At the current rate of decline we will fall into the relegation zone in late March.
With regard to the ***** coach thing, I see Dan Roan and the BBC are going after the Stoke Chairman. FFS this went to trial in 98 where were the BBC and media then, why weren't they screaming for an inquiry, same with the pro footballers asc, why were they not wanting to look after their members. Sick of the BBC bandwaggon who are the most useless set of cnts going. Gone after Mo Farah last year and how did that turn out, zero as he was proven innocent of all RUMOURS. Wiggins recently again innocent, so fook off BBC and get your own house in order. Sad to find out about all these young kids being tampered with and were scared of not getting to live their dream. Same period though there was scout masters in the ***** rings and all sorts of crap. A really bad period in our history, which again the BBC were part of with covering up for Saville, Harris, some DJ's, some football commentators, Frank Bough, David Coleman ...
Morning Doc, this has been going on for hears, I think it is only now that it is acceptable to talk about it. If by talking about it, things can be put in place to ensure it does not happen again then that's a good job....
Morning all. Sad for David White and others in a similar situation. Let's hope for them they all get justice. On McContract, DILIGAF. Let's move on & hope he doesn't come back to bite us when we play Villa. Just to upset Glory, we'll win this weekend and get back into the top 6
If we don't win this weekend I can safely spend the cash chesh will be owing me come May. He has the payment on annual direct debit to make things easy.
