I've listened to Wray's interview, yesterday I stated I thought he just wanted the player regardless of the shitstorm. Today after hearing his second interview and clarification I think he is sincere in what he says regarding rehabilitation. So I guess I owe an albeit indirect apology there (I'm sure he's following this thread). Still don't agree with his opinion mind.
Fair play, Batch. You have taken a steady line since the news broke, and, whilst I disagree with you, that is the nature of a controversial issue. Very few people on these pages are ready actually to listen to what's going on and publicly change their view.
The real problem is that we have all been dealing with second/third and fourth hand information and gossip, especially from tabloid style media people who will always do everything they can to make trouble, especially for people who have been convicted of serious crime (except when its their media practices, of course, then its everybody else's fault.) We just get the headlines to go on.
The fact is there are processes involved in releasing someone from prison, and it does include informing victims. It really is not the business of anyone other than the authorities to get involved formally in that process, quite simply because it is so controversial. As shown, the family of the two boys, absolutely understandably, resent McCormick's release...full stop. Nothing will change that. They opposed him getting a job in a charity shop, so they were bound also to object to him training with a football club.
The club were approached. It was not their idea. All prisoners on day release are found opportunities to see how they adapt to life 'outside'. The club, with a strong sense of community and social responsibility (a feature of STFC which I strongly support and admire) felt they should respond positively, but clearly consulted within the club as they should have done. the controversial part, really, and about which it seems they had considerable discussion, has been to imply that he might get a contract at the end of the process. That is clearly still not decided. If the view is that he should, after everything else is taken into account, I personally would support that decision; but I fully understand and accept that others see it differently, and judge the club's reputation differently. Sometimes (not always) having the courage of one's convictions (pun not intended), against public opinion actually stands to gain street-cred, even if that is in the longer-term.
As for the lad's family, I just hope that those with responsibility for victim support are working hard with them, privately, to help them and support them through this horrible time, because it is they who have the responsibility to do so - its not good enough just to leave it all to blood-letting in the media, and for STFC - who only responded to an official request - to take all the sh1t.
