Luke McCormick joins Swindon!!

[SteveDeckchair]

Truly disgusted by this.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/18164015

The Swindon Chairman tries to justify it by classing it as rehabilitation for the player concerned. In my opinion, he can rehabilitate himself out of the public eye. It sickens me to see Lee Hughes celebrating his goals. What kind of a message does that send out to the fans about their club?

It will be interesting what the response will be from Swindon fans and the family.

I hope we never do something like this, as it would for me personally, shatter any feeling that the club was family orientated.

[Glostergull]

Well that depends on what he does with his life. If he donated half of everything he earned from now on to the victims, Then i will suggest he is paying for his crime. He can't bring the youngsters back but he can help with compensation. If not he is the same as about 60% of all footballers who have only one thing in mind. Greed. Just like to numpties who are selling their Olympic torches to fund a better lifestylw for themselves.
But what did you expect from football. it's now turned into a game run in the main by greed. Even our level has been tainted with it. That's why I love coming to Plainmoor. Untainted is mostly what we are and I am proud of that. Even if we have lost out in the past because of it. I am proud we have kept a clean conscience.

[Regiment]

just seen this myself. Di Canio just loves a bit of controversy doesn't he ??

even more reason i hope Eunan doesn't end up there, he's better than Swindon.

[gullintwoplaces]

I think that Swindon will regret this decision. I can't imagine what the family of the victims thinks about this. Rehabilitation is appropriate for released prisoners of course, but surely it should not involve instant rehabilitation into the limelight of league soccer? A few years well out of the public eye, working in a less publicly visible job, would surely be more suitable. From what I recall he wasn't exactly contrite when taken to court either.

If he gets a contract then I think he can look forward to a very, very hard time from fans of other clubs during games, and this might be tricky for a goalie.

[ferrarilover]

I imagine his five grand a week will soothe his fevered brow somewhat.

He's served his time in jail, he can't be condemned to a whole life sentence, good luck to him, we should all be so fortunate.

Matt.

[Plymouth Gull]

He's being let out half way through is sentence. Hmm.

I'm glad our club would never sign anyone with such a background.

[happytorq]

He's being let out half way through is sentence. Hmm.

That happens a lot. it's the justice system that needs looking at there.

[Plymouth Gull]

I know. Why are people saying he's done his time, when he clearly hasn't.

Shocking isn't it. Ched Evans will be out in two years.

[royalgull]

How long he does in prison is off no fault of Swindon or even Luke McCormick though is it? That's down to the judicial service in this country and the rules they imply.

Why are people so high and mighty about footballers who return to football once they've done time inside? Should a builder who does the same thign nto go back to building once he comes out of prison? It's the only thing these people know and if they are still young enough and clubs want them why shouldn't they return to their careers?

Not condoning what he's done or what others have done but what are they supposed to do on release? They still have lives to lead and need employment like the rest of us.

[happytorq]

How long he does in prison is off no fault of Swindon or even Luke McCormick though is it? That's down to the judicial service in this country and the rules they imply.

Why are people so high and mighty about footballers who return to football once they've done time inside? Should a builder who does the same thign nto go back to building once he comes out of prison? It's the only thing these people know and if they are still young enough and clubs want them why shouldn't they return to their careers?

Not condoning what he's done or what others have done but what are they supposed to do on release? They still have lives to lead and need employment like the rest of us.

I agree with you here - the whole point of the judicial system is that it's supposed to rehabilitate, and parole/early release is intended to be given to those believed to have already rehabilitated to the extent that they're safe to be released. (it saves tax money, too). I said pretty much the same thing when Lee Hughes was released.

Once somebody is released from incarceration, he/she should be allowed to restart their life. If you were a plumber before prison, you're allowed to be a plumber afterwards. It's not different for footballers...people just see it as different because a career in professional football is often not thought of as a 'job'. We look at guys getting paid money to play football as 'lucky; especially given the usually inflated sums they earn. We probably shouldn't.

With all that being said - there is often something distasteful about being associated with somebody who has committed a crime (especially one like McCormick's). We have the right to express that - if you're a Swindon fan, for example, you could choose not to renew a season ticket if they do eventually take him on. but of course, we all know that's not going to happen. If Swindon are flying high in League 1 with McCormick playing brilliantly, most Swindon fans would conveniently overlook things.

And so would we, most likely - hell, it wasn't that long ago we took on a player (Zebroski) with a history of violent behaviour and it hardly ever got talked about (i include myself in this) because he was doing well. Ok, it's a lot different but the principle is the same.

The problem - as Royalgull said - is with the justice system deciding that 3 and a half years in prison is sufficient punishment for killing 2 children.

[gullintwoplaces]

How long he does in prison is off no fault of Swindon or even Luke McCormick though is it? That's down to the judicial service in this country and the rules they imply.

Why are people so high and mighty about footballers who return to football once they've done time inside? Should a builder who does the same thign nto go back to building once he comes out of prison? It's the only thing these people know and if they are still young enough and clubs want them why shouldn't they return to their careers?

Not condoning what he's done or what others have done but what are they supposed to do on release? They still have lives to lead and need employment like the rest of us.

Not high and mighty, just trying to think how I would feel if it had been my family that his reckless, criminal stupidity had destroyed. Going back to football is not like going back to a builder's job. The building industry is not high visibility, high profile, but football is. Would you expect a TV star to go back on TV in a similar situation? If that is how the judicial service see things, then no wonder so many British people hold the legal system in such contempt. We don't have real "justice" in Britain, if we did then people who kill others either deliberately or recklessly would not get out after just a handful of years inside.

[happytorq]

We don't have real "justice" in Britain, if we did then people who kill others either deliberately or recklessly would not get out after just a handful of years inside.

That's why I (and I think royalgull too, but I can't speak for him) feel that the issue is with the justice system, not employers, regardless of the industry that those employers happen to be in. 3 and a half years in exchange for the lives of 2 kids is a disgrace. if he'd got what he deserved he'd have been at least 40 by the time he got out. Hell, if he'd served his actual sentence his football career would probably have been over because of his age and this discussion would have been avoided entirely.

[SteveDeckchair]

My issue with this actually has nothing to do with the sentence, woefully inadequate as it is.

I take offence to a football club presenting him to their fans as a role model, because that is ultimately what you are as a footballer.

Kids and families clapping and cheering someone who has killed 2 children. It is morally and ethically wrong in my opinion and I wouldn't be comfortable doing it.

[Dave]

This is a bit of a catch 22 for me, as the father of 2 children, I can't and will not even try to imagine the living hell this family goes through day in, day out, however on the flip side it does my head why we have to in this country insist that people are punished over and over again for the same crime, and it's often why people re-offend because no one is willing to give a second chance, or a chance to put things right.

I totaly agree 3 1/2 years for the lives of 2 children is not right, however as said above if a plumber had been convicted of the same offence and kept his nose clean in prison , he would have served the same time as McCormick, the difference not being high profile would have been released from prison unnoticed and continued with his life.

This is not a flight of fancy it is fact, the F.A are in prisons up and down the country every day, working with offenders, helping to gain coaching badges and other football related quailfications to enable to them to have careers with in the game opon their release, so why should a player be any different.

I actually think the Swindon chairmen is speaking some sense, their are still far, far to many people up and down the country drink driving, and if McCormick can use his status as a pro footballer to help stop 5-10-15 people every week from taking the same risk, then atleast something positive hopw ever small will come from this, because no amount of his money will ever put this right or bring back those kids, as said if he can help to stop another family going through what this family has, then I don't have a problem with him resuming his career.

[happytorq]

I actually think the Swindon chairmen is speaking some sense, their are still far, far to many people up and down the country drink driving, and if McCormick can use his status as a pro footballer to help stop 5-10-15 people every week from taking the same risk, then atleast something positive hopw ever small will come from this, because no amount of his money will ever put this right or bring back those kids, as said if he can help to stop another family going through what this family has, then I don't have a problem with him resuming his career.

That would be nice, of course, but Tony Adams getting banged up didn't change anything, neither did Lee Hughes. I get why footballers are sometimes held to a higher standard with all this 'role model' stuff but frankly I'd never want any of my kids looking up to a professional footballer as a role model.

unrelated - but isn't it about time we just got rid of the legal drink driving limit and said "any alcohol is too much". Seems to me that having a limit is creating a ready-made grey area.