As a former Manager of the Palace back in the 80's I find it unbelievable that he and the Chairman John Bowler knew nothing of what was going on re the Bennell case, I think there's no question that Crewe have tried to sweep it under the carpet in the hope that it'll go away...It defies logic that they didn't get an inkling of Bennell's activities and what's more strange is that Gradi has been suspended for over a year! What are the FA doing about it?
It also odd that both Bowler and Gradi gave a 'no comment' to Channel 4 on Thursday... There's definitely more to come in this whole abuse scandal!

I saw the dispatches programme on C4, and I find it astounding and arrogant that neither Gradi nor Bowler still refuse to apologise or make any kind of acknowledgment of wrong-doing.

It's the 25-year rule. If you can keep the activities of disgusting scum covered up for 25 years, you can then think you've got away with it when it eventually does get out, and there is a certain amount of incredulity and public revulsion and a ringleader or two might get strung up if still alive, but basically nothing will be done because "it couldn't happen nowadays". Cf. Hillsborough, Catholic priests, Jimmy Saville etc. etc.

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The Ferret
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[Link]

I linked the BBC.com article here for two reasons. It says Bennell was sentenced to 31 years, fifteen of them in custody. I assume that means he will be imprisoned. However, the rest of the sentence will be "on license." is that a type of parole or probation?

The second question is in reference to something written at the end of the article. It says he has prior convictions in both the US and the UK for child abuse. It seems that although he has form it wasn't fully taken into account at sentencing. Is there a reasonable explanation for that?

Divorced...And LOVING it!
VJRAM Rev.
CPFC since Boxing Day 1989 CPFC 2-2 CFC
Gregg Berhalter, US International & USMNT Head Coach
Jill Ellis, England International & Retired USWNT Head Coach
Trevor Francis, International PRAT

That seems to be a common theme in all of these cases. Why didn't the NCAA or Michigan State act years ago when they knew what Larry Nassar was doing? Why didn't Penn State act when they were told years before that Jerry Sandusky was abusing children on campus? Virtually every child abuse case that occurred at an institution of some kind was known about for years but nothing was done.

Divorced...And LOVING it!
VJRAM Rev.
CPFC since Boxing Day 1989 CPFC 2-2 CFC
Gregg Berhalter, US International & USMNT Head Coach
Jill Ellis, England International & Retired USWNT Head Coach
Trevor Francis, International PRAT

I always thought there was something not quite right about Gradi

Old, Ungifted and White