We didn't try to cover it up, and we sacked the guy immediately. A little different don't you think?
and he is still a no hoper.
At least WCE took a more holistic approach and have tried to assist with rehabbing Ben.
No excuses for a player being involved - they make their own choices in life and suffer the outcomes.
Our club has tried to deal with the issues but eventully had to escalate it when Ben did not respond to their efforts. Others did respond and are back on track.
Maybe there is an argument that the club's efforts were ineffectual and insufficient but they were dealing with something that they did not completely understand.
I believe that WCE will be a better club for what has happened and will be better equipped to advise, monitor and deal with future issues.
Of concern are those clubs who do have similar issues (there are plenty of clubs in that boat to varying degrees) who have taken a "holier than thou" attitude but are effectively burying their head in the sand and hoping that all of the attention on WCE will allow them to escape the spotlight.
If a club thinks that these issues can be buried, they are mistaken. For all that I dislike journos, they will continue to seek and destroy in the name of getting a story.
A club that has ignored this issue after what has happened here, will be even more culpable should it be exposed at their club going forward.