Crewe Alex Sex Abuse Scandal

[Douglas_Valley_Reds]

Looks like Crewe are rejecting media requests to attend tonight's fans' forum.

Because it would become a circus otherwise, and fans are not to impressed with the biased shown towards us but not City in the media. This is from Crewe mad and describes how many of us feel when we are accused of 'defending' the club, when the reality is we just want fairness in all of this,


"I don't get why Man City aren't as much the focus as we are. They are accused of a cover up and having the knowledge as well as not passing it on to Crewe. There also seems to be accusations that his abuse may have been connected to suicides. I'd normally say that our poor handling of the media and silence is to blame but City don't seem to be talking too much either.
It's important to remember that the guilt or innocence of City has no real bearing on ours, but it does seem that this journalist is being a bit cowardly and going after the team without the huge media and law machine backing. It's a shame really as those victims from City must feel fairly brushed under the carpet by this reporting."

 

[SRNP]

If I know the club and the type of Crewe fans that will attend tonight - there will be one sentence at the start from the people running it saying something like "due to issues off the field, these matters are sensitive and will not be discussed tonight" and not one word will be discussed about it.

Oh and by the way, Crewe fans. The media circus around Crewe is not a witch hunt because we are "little old crewe". It is going on because of how the club has dealt with it. Man city have done a multi-million pound year long investigation, not hidden from the media (I know Crewe cannot do £££ as much as City but Crewe should do the max they can right? ). That coupled with the abuse our fans are giving the media outlets and journalists is making the club look like a club full of pricks and fueling the media articles by doing so. By tweeting and talking about this made up "witch hunt" you're actually making the club more of a focus point for the media.

 

[SRNP]

Some of the comments in this thread regarding Crewe Alexandra are awful, even subject to lible actions in the case of this SRNP bellend, I know for a fact that this cock has spammed other sites calling for the club to be demonised, and for some warped reason he has has then sent club officials friend requests on Facebook, why the hell would you do that, it's been suggested he is working for the press, I know his post on this thread has been sent to the club as there could be some libel issues with it, what an idiot you are, Sam. Oh yes, you are known.

Hey look, I admit I have put my views across on facebook and been met very negatively, however I have never once sent friend requests to club officials? Not since the late 2000s anyway.

 

[TimeyWimey]

These articles and tweets (see Dan Roan today) are exactly why Bowler, Dario and anyone else from the 80s should have gone last week.

The focus they’re bringing is going to kill this club at this rate.

 

[Douglas_Valley_Reds]

These articles and tweets (see Dan Roan today) are exactly why Bowler, Dario and anyone else from the 80s should have gone last week.

The focus they’re bringing is going to kill this club at this rate.

I agree JB & DG should have gone ages ago, not because they are guilty of anything but at 81 & 77 fresh ideas are needed, and fast.

Roan though, what a disgrace, and what a disgrace his latest twisted twitter attack is, though it seems to have backfired judging at the comments, and mostly from none Alex fans.

 

[TimeyWimey]

Can't stand Roan.

So how many of us Crewe fans have been contacted by journos? Had one through Facebook today, which is proper digging deep seeing as I rarely ever use Facebook generally, never mind to do with Crewe. He wants to buy my ticket to the forum. I don't have one. And regardless of my views, or anyone elses, they can get fucked trying to hijack tonight. Arseholes.

 

[Chris FGR]

Where were all these journo's at previous press conferences if they are so desperate to ask all these questions. It's not like this has only just come to light.

And Roan works for the BBC, hardly a whiter then white organisation when it comes to this sort of stuff.

 

[Douglas_Valley_Reds]

Can't stand Roan.

So how many of us Crewe fans have been contacted by journos? Had one through Facebook today, which is proper digging deep seeing as I rarely ever use Facebook generally, never mind to do with Crewe. He wants to buy my ticket to the forum. I don't have one. And regardless of my views, or anyone elses, they can get fucked trying to hijack tonight. Arseholes.

I have heard others say that, it's disgusting now, there is even a member of the Offside Trust re-tweeting Peter Morse's excellent article about his time as a young pro at the club and how well he was looked after by Dario, and this individual is totally misquoting Peter, the individual concerned labels himself as an ex Crewe Alex fan. It's a shame as it sounds like he is working in cahoots with certain tabloid hacks, but then all his poison does is undermine the good work of the Trust.

Also, a guy who has made money off the club by writing books about the glory days, is now tying to get Crewe fans to appear on the Victoria Derbyshire show with their opinions from tonight's forum, I have seen anything like it.

 

[TimeyWimey]

I'm really not sure why they're roping fans into it. A tweet I saw this morning was right, along the lines of if the national media can't get answers from Bowler then why on earth expect Bob from Nantwich to?

Tonight is nothing to do with the media. If Bowler says something that matters (about anything) it'll be the first time in a good 20 years, then report it. Don't try and hijack what has always been billed as a fans night in its entirety.

Slightly worried there will be a another media backlash due to fans (rightly) not cooperating with journos. But then, like a broken record, certain individuals could easily end it.

Where were all these journo's at previous press conferences if they are so desperate to ask all these questions. It's not like this has only just come to light.

And Roan works for the BBC, hardly a whiter then white organisation when it comes to this sort of stuff.

From the sounds of it, there was nothing stopping them attending tonight other than the fact it was sold out. Dan Roan took this as a personal insult.

 

[AnimoEtFide]

Perhaps if the club started being a little more transparent then journalists wouldn't resort to trying to get into the fans forum? Whilst this might not be much fun for some of the fans, journalists (in principle) weigh the legitimacy of their methods against what is in the public interest, and I think getting some answers from the club (or highlighting the fact that they're reluxtant to give answers) probably justifies potentially ruining a fans forum.

 

[TimeyWimey]

The club absolutely should be more transparent (and that has been covered in this thread) and I do hope it is covered extensively tonight via a supporter. But, when you're a fan of the club whose forum that journalists are attempting all means possible to hijack, it is more than a little irksome. We have other issues affecting the long term future of our club that we wouldn't mind looking at, thanks.

And for what it's worth, they're going to be no more transparent tonight than they have been for the last 35 years. We'll be lucky if they're transparent about the team selection.

 

[AnimoEtFide]

The club absolutely should be more transparent (and that has been covered in this thread) and I do hope it is covered extensively tonight via a supporter. But, when you're a fan of the club whose forum that journalists are attempting all means possible to hijack, it is more than a little irksome. We have other issues affecting the long term future of our club that we wouldn't mind looking at, thanks.

And for what it's worth, they're going to be no more transparent tonight than they have been for the last 35 years. We'll be lucky if they're transparent about the team selection.

And you should be irked. But be irked at the club who have caused this, not the journalists who are doing their job.

 

[GodsGift]

Dan Roan is a very good journalist looking to get answers from a club looking to hide them at every possible opportunity, it's not rocket science. Don't you think he's already tried to get answers? Of course he has. But a fans' forum, if completely open and transparent which tonight obviously isn't, is an obvious opportunity to speak to those at the top.

It's depressing that Crewe fans are more intent on criticising the media rather than their own club.

 

[T.A]

Easy to be irked at a man they have no affinity to than a club they have loved all their life.

Most of them are probably feeling like the partner that’s been cheated on several times but refuses to get angry at them.

Strange thing football.

 

[TimeyWimey]

And you should be irked. But be irked at the club who have caused this, not the journalists who are doing their job.

Funnily enough, I can quite easily be irked at both.

 

[Douglas_Valley_Reds]

Dan Roan is a very good journalist looking to get answers from a club looking to hide them at every possible opportunity, it's not rocket science. Don't you think he's already tried to get answers? Of course he has. But a fans' forum, if completely open and transparent which tonight obviously isn't, is an obvious opportunity to speak to those at the top.

It's depressing that Crewe fans are more intent on criticising the media rather than their own club.

But the forum was about footballing matters, not a court case, these forums have always been about football. Roan is a shite journalist, one of the worst, and it shows you how far the BBC has fallen if they employ a helmet like this. He’s a sensationalist red top type journalist, you don’t have to read his cheap tactics against Crewe Alexandra, he got battered on twitter for the crap he spouted about England losing to Scotland in the six nations, he’s been battered for plenty, he has no balance and is basically a smug prick.

Roan and his kind are after Bowler and Gradi to say sorry, which after being cleared by the police is not leagally a wise thing to do, and they will have been advised in this hence why no Bennell questions were asked tonight, the one time they did the chairman explained that it was not best to comment on something where more legal action could be taking place. Guess who was retweeting the Crewe Chronicles tweets, yep, helmet head Roan, but funnily enough he never once retweeted any of the footballing questions, none of the boardroom related questions, just a question asking about Bennell that I have explained above, and one question where Dave Artell was asked if he needed some help regarding being a rookie manager, DA responded that the man he would like to seek advise from he can’t speak to, meaning Dario, so because DG gets a mention Roan gets a hard on and retweets it. For a prick moaning about the press not being able to get in, he didn’t seem to share or discuss much about the forum in the end. What a prick.

 

[GodsGift]

But the forum was about footballing matters, not a court case, these forums have always been about football. Roan is a shite journalist, one of the worst, and it shows you how far the BBC has fallen if they employ a helmet like this. He’s a sensationalist red top type journalist, you don’t have to read his cheap tactics against Crewe Alexandra, he got battered on twitter for the crap he spouted about England losing to Scotland in the six nations, he’s been battered for plenty, he has no balance and is basically a smug prick.

Roan and his kind are after Bowler and Gradi to say sorry, which after being cleared by the police is not leagally a wise thing to do, and they will have been advised in this hence why no Bennell questions were asked tonight, the one time they did the chairman explained that it was not best to comment on something where more legal action could be taking place. Guess who was retweeting the Crewe Chronicles tweets, yep, helmet head Roan, but funnily enough he never once retweeted any of the footballing questions, none of the boardroom related questions, just a question asking about Bennell that I have explained above, and one question where Dave Artell was asked if he needed some help regarding being a rookie manager, DA responded that the man he would like to seek advise from he can’t speak to, meaning Dario, so because DG gets a mention Roan gets a hard on and retweets it. For a prick moaning about the press not being able to get in, he didn’t seem to share or discuss much about the forum in the end. What a prick.

Don't be so naive. Have you been to a fans' forum before? Off-the-field matters are discussed all the time and usually make up the bulk of the questions. We had one at Lincoln the other week and footballing matters barely featured. Weren't they discussing potential investment last night? There's a reason why your senior guys are there; to be transparent and answer questions. The court case is and continues to be intrinsically linked to the football club.

I'm not going to dignify your childish digs at Roan with a response. How old are you, 12? Let's be honest, you're only calling him a helmet because he's criticising your club. Perhaps you should open your eyes a little?

Anyway, this clip is absolutely shameful. Continue to stick your heads in the sand and sure, it'll all go away.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43202183

 

[Douglas_Valley_Reds]

Don't be so naive. Have you been to a fans' forum before? Off-the-field matters are discussed all the time and usually make up the bulk of the questions. We had one at Lincoln the other week and footballing matters barely featured. Weren't they discussing potential investment last night? There's a reason why your senior guys are there; to be transparent and answer questions. The court case is and continues to be intrinsically linked to the football club.

I'm not going to dignify your childish digs at Roan with a response. How old are you, 12? Let's be honest, you're only calling him a helmet because he's criticising your club. Perhaps you should open your eyes a little?

Anyway, this clip is absolutely shameful. Continue to stick your heads in the sand and sure, it'll all go away.

You do realise that due to ongoing investigations they could not answer any question on the subject, which is a bit different from point blank refusing, what bit of that do you and shithouse Roan not understand.

As for the audio that (surprise, suprise) Roan is sticking all over the internet, a 1st question was asked regarding the Bennell inquiry, the chairmen advised that they were not going to discuss this as per the above, then later in the evening a BBC employee then asks the same question regarding Bennell, the chairman stops him in his tracks, reiterated that the evening is about footballing matters and this drawas applies from the audience, an audience who want to talk about the current state of the football club regarding its league position and future direction.

It’s now emerging that the BBC employee who asked the question (who seems to have been lent on as he’s never asked a searching question ever before in 30 years) was scripted by, yes you guessed it, Dan Roan, Roan and the BBC now trying to demonaise the fans. Shite journalism from and utter wanker.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

There's none so blind as those who will not see.



Let's be honest this was deplorable be it at youth level, first team level or any, no CHILD should be subjected to sexual advances from adults in a position of trust, Crewe amongst other clubs have a lot of questions to answer.

Football in Sheffield had one junior club which had such accusations levelled at it, it was an almost open secret, let's not believe it was much different at the clubs Bennell pedalled his perverted ways.

 

[JJ1532]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43202183

Utterly damning if true. Basically makes their version of him leaving the club out to be a complete lie and would further raise questions about whether they knew.

 

[SoutheySWFC]

The BBC witch-hunt in full flow

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43211929

 

[Chris FGR]

Not sure the relevence, as it doesn't state what type of porn. But it makes another damaging headline. BBC really going after Crewe, Bowler and Gradi in particular it seems. Hopefully it's justified. Because it must be pretty terrible for them and their families.

 

[northstandexile]

So to summarise, Crewe sack Bennell in Jan 1992, then he immediately goes to USA where in 1994 he gets jailed for 4 years for child abuse. When let out he comes back to England and is immediately convicted again and sent to prison.

So the question is why was he sacked. Your guess is as good as the BBC ‘s

 

[northstandexile]

Cover ups are always worse than coming out immediately and saying we made a mistake.

 

[ValiantRob]

Not sure the relevence, as it doesn't state what type of porn. But it makes another damaging headline. BBC really going after Crewe, Bowler and Gradi in particular it seems. Hopefully it's justified. Because it must be pretty terrible for them and their families.

Their behaviour surely justifies the BBC`s attitude, negligent at best of their duty of care and possibly complicit in child abuse. They have never shown any sympathy to the victims in this and are not deserving of any in return.

 

[ValiantRob]

I think Crewe are in a fix as to what they knew when they sacked Bennell, as he left there and went to Stone Dominoes and Stoke City and it is on a tour of USA with Stone that he abused one of their youngsters for which he did time. Presumably, Stone would have asked for a reference from Crewe and judging by the glowing reference Dario provided at Bennell`s trial, I doubt they mentioned anything about abuse.
Of course Crewe` s defence of they didn`t know anything may be right and everyone else is a liar. I suspect we may find out soon.

 

[Chris FGR]

Their behaviour surely justifies the BBC`s attitude, negligent at best of their duty of care and possibly complicit in child abuse. They have never shown any sympathy to the victims in this and are not deserving of any in return.

Yeah I agree if they were negligent or complicit then they deserve all the shit they'll get.

All I'm saying is that the BBC running headlines like the one about Gradi today, which isn't necessarily relevent or proven, seems a bit like an attempt to defame him.

 

[ValiantRob]

Yeah I agree if they were negligent or complicit then they deserve all the shit they'll get.

All I'm saying is that the BBC running headlines like the one about Gradi today, which isn't necessarily relevent or proven, seems a bit like an attempt to defame him.

I think what the BBC are doing is pointing out that despite the activities of Bennell, Crewe still showed an unbelievably complacent attitude to youngsters wellbeing and allowed under 13s in their care to view pornography at one of their officials houses, which they then destroyed the evidence of. As you say not proven but hints at how abuse could happen.

 

[IanPVFC]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43202183

"We didn't know anything"