Former Crewe manager Dario Gradi releases statement on sex abuse claims
Thursday 24 November 2016 17:28, UK
Former Crewe manager Dario Gradi has released a statement insisting he was unaware of the alleged sexual abuse that occurred at the club.
In an interview last week with The Guardian, Andy Woodward broke his silence on abuse he suffered at the hands of coach Barry Bennell while at Crewe between the ages of 11 and 15.
Ex-Crewe midfielder Steve Walters and former Manchester City forward David White have since also claimed to have been abused by Bennell, while former England international Paul Stewart has described the abuse he suffered from an unnamed youth coach as a child over a four-year period.
Bennell was jailed for nine years in 1998 after pleading guilty to sexual offences.
"I would like to express sympathy to the victims of Barry Bennell, not only at Crewe Alexandra, but at other clubs in the North West," said Gradi , who has worked as a manager and academy manager during his 33 years at Crewe.
"The first I knew of Barry Bennell's crimes was when he was arrested in the United States in 1994. I knew nothing of his crimes before this time when he was employed by us.
"No-one at the football club knew of Bennell's crimes until his arrest in 1994 and subsequent prosecution in the United Kingdom.
"The football club also co-operated fully with the authorities in 2003. The club are in the process of a review and I will not be making any further comment until this is finalised"
Sky News understands that 11 people have now approached Cheshire Police with information regarding alleged football-related abuse and the force are now in the process of contacting them. No arrests have been made.
*A new hotline for footballers who have been the victims of sexual abuse has been launched by the NSPCC. The hotline will be available 24 hours a day on 0800 023 2642.
