Colinjb

My team: ------------------ Bart -------------------- Butters ---- Martin --- Hooiveld ---- Harding De Ridder -- Morgan -- Chaplow ----- Isgrove ---------- Lambert ---- Forte -------------- Yes, I would start Isgrove, I rate him that highly.

Then I will maintain my viewpoint. I respect you said that you agree with the moral standpoint, but I do not see how that equates to your thought of it being a deprivation of rights that someone is deprived of fulfilling their talent when that is evidently something that occurs in most industries where a criminal record is concerned. If more people protested at individuals like King getting a contract after prison release then maybe there would be hope.... alas I remember the Cov fans celebrating the coup..... they reaped what they sowed.

You ask him that. Apparently there is a skills shortage in engineering. Not that he would know, criminal convictions deprive people of fulfilling their talent every day, but because it's football it's a different rule set. Not just in this case but many others. At a lesser level there are lads in my local who struggle to get menial jobs, they have petty offences on their criminal records but cannot get a job of any real sort because they are considered a risk. At most levels of society a criminal record is considered a handicap and seriously effects career prospects never mind talent, never mind ability and willing. It is something that scars and masks peoples lives..... yet footballers live on a different plain.

A man refused a career at an automotive supplier as a designer because he has a conviction for assault (just the one conviction, after a night out and alcohol influenced, no defence but less happens to many, and this was an isolated incident), despite his masters degree in engineering. He served his time! Went through the motions, but now works in McDonalds, and is lucky to have the job.

And many people who commit lesser offences then King are denied this. That is why I take issue with him, it cannot be one rule for one and another for the footballer.

Out of interest, Mrs Colinjb and I decided on the following names: Male: Arthur Female: Molly, Megan, Holly, Dotty, Evie.

It's a combination of the two though. It's not about the pay, it's about the reputation and impact of him continuing in a high profile role. That he is permitted to continue as he is tells the younger generations that your beahviour doesn't matter if you are in the upper bracket of sticking a ball into a net. At a non-league club it would still be an issue for me, but granted not to the same degree. I am a fan of non-league Margate, and the thought of someone like King playing for them sickens me all the same mind. Talent seems to outweigh criminality and consequence. That is the part I have issue with. Two men commit the same offence (A sales rep and a footballer say) but only one of those has the long term destruction of career.

I've been called worse I am just worried that it'll come back to bite us on the arse I suppose.

I would flip that by saying its a desire to see him having no divine right to more glamourous one. The talent he displays has seen doors opened for him that would never have been revealed to someone of less a gift. It is horrible innequality. Criminality means nothing if you can kick a ball effectively, but if you are a sales rep who misbehaved, you're f*cked.

Well, who makes that determination for regular sex offenders/violent criminals? It is a subjective thing, granted, but their behaviour bars many less 'talented' criminals from many, many jobs. That he hasn't been barred from a position of respect (for want of a better description) makes it repulsive to me. As you say, We may have to agree to dissagree.

A good shout to be fair...... I wonder if it would take off?

I cannot agree that it's irrelevant. I'm sorry but employment by an organisation, particularly one that is a pillar of the community like a football club is (regardless of intent, it is a massive focal point) even after the crimes he has commited and consistency of his behaviour is almost tantamount to saying, "oh, if you're talented it doesn't matter what you do, you'll be given a king's ransom anyway!" It shouldn't matter if you are a cleaner or a striker. You break the law it makes you inelligable to work in these environments. And regarding the academy coach aspect, I know for a fact that King worked with academy players in his time at Coventry.

Football Clubs have academys. Minors work in them and the senior pros are encouraged to work with the youngsters in many cases. Rigorous checks are carried out to ensure that coaches, support staff and various other personel are 'suitable' to work in these environments. Yet individuals like Marlon King can bypass that due to their supposed 'value' to a club. God, the number of kids in Coventry that looked up to him..... despite his convictions and behaviour that is still a factor. It does actually sicken me.

You work with or around minors, you assault someone, do you expect to pass the entry requirements afterwards?

Relax, I'm not that deluded. Out of interest what is the greater metropolitan area of Southampton, Eastleigh, Winchester, Andover, The New Forest etc?

You have just described the SISU ridden corpse perfectly. Your point about Lee Hughes though, at least he has expressed genuine remorse over his actions... The most that could ever be expected for a crime so dreadful. If only Marlon King knew what that word 'remorse' meant.

Quite right. He is no longer popular in Coventry for a very, very good reason.... and that was before he signed for Birmingham.

Football is a game of opinions. It's why it's so wonderful.

Well, if this is the worst thing that got to me today then things can't be 'that' bad!

That's fair enough, but if I heard another club sing that in September, regardless of league position I would think they are being a bit f**king stupid! Talk about tempting fate!

UTTER fact!

#MLG Mode enabled# Well, considering that the city of Porto has a population of just 237 thousand..........

Yet we live in a society that will actively discriminate against giving people jobs if they have any criminal convictions, particular those which are violent or sexual in nature. Well, in most industries anyway.

I think a few minutes need to be taken in front of this picture just to fully realise how utterly f**king wrong that thing was!!!! The raised arm, the unnatural wrist joint, the impish legs and Milan Mandaric's face. Wow, it just gets more amazing with age.

I mean, really? Really!? Yes, we are doing bloody brilliantly right now but please, that was a little embarrasing. Singing "We are top of the league" however, go for it guys! At least that's provable. What a wonderful time to be a fan of this club!