violent disorder and assault occasioning actual bodily harm. That doesn't mean he's guilty of these crimes, and in his appearance in court he entered a plea of not guilty, but he has been charged and he will face trial. I'm not comfortable that we've done this. Not because he might get sent down, meaning we'd lose his services, but because I think it's the wrong thing to do. I'm not prejudging his guilt and I don't think we should talk about the specifics of a case that is yet to reach court. But I am interested in the ethics of signing someone in this position. There's been a lot of opinion on here in the past about other clubs signing players in a similar position, what's your opinion now it's us?
I'm not particularly thrilled about it, I would rather us have put that money towards someone else, but the kid is talented and I'm hoping we wrote something into the contract that lets us void it if he does get sent down.
I get what you are saying Jay. But I would like to think that our board would have studied all available evidence , perhaps spoken with Mallik's lawyer. Hopefully they will have satisfied themselves enough to believe in going ahead with the deal.
Innocent until proven guilty like, but had Sheffield United signed him, i suspect there would have been plenty of “lovely club” type comments round here. I’m sure we’ll have a clause in there if he goes down. He’ll definitely have one in, if we do!
I've been mulling this over since the story broke that we were interested in him. I'm a firm believer in innocent until proven guilty. Likewise, I believe that everyone deserves a second chance. I especially think that people should not have stupid mistakes they made in their teens hanging over them for their whole lives. Piecing together what I've read about Wilks and the terrible thing that happened to his brother, it seems that he didn't have the easiest of upbringings. His undoubted football talent, and the dedication and discipline needed to channel that talent into a fruitful career, is Wilks' route out of the unsavoury world he seems to have grown up in. I still have reservations about the signing, but on the other hand if BFC can play a part in helping Wilks to use his talents productively and leave behind his previous life, then that can only be a good thing.
I'm sure you're right with regards to the legal side. We must have done our due diligence. I think Jay is referring more to the ethical issues.
We've done it before signing players with form for violence. What Hammill did was disgusting. What Wilks is alleged to have done is bad, but experience tells me whoever on the receiving end was unlikely to be an angel if it was gang-related. Doesn't mean it is right, but what Hammill did goes further against my moral compass. People do bad things and can change, though. Edit: I'd have preferred we had given him a wide berth if im honest.
I don't know any of the specifics whatsoever so I speak from ignorance (as may be usual) but as a rule I don't like the club signing thugs/rapists/racists etc. It just promotes a bad vibe within the sport as a whole. Imagine if he was young enough and we had just signed Joey Barton. Would it sit right? Methinks it would make people uneasy. I don't care how good a player is either. This new lad may of course be a lovely, innocent person or the circumstances of any misdemeanour are exaggerated or understandable which would be fine with me. It's the general principle of signing certain personality types that I'm uneasy with. I know there are possible flaws in my view but you asked for opinions.
Don't like it. Didn't like it when we signed Etuhu. I'd rather us be a ***** team than sign players with that hanging over them.
I agree with much, if not all of what you've written. There's no right answer. Do you think you'd be so pragmatic had Sheff Utd signed him?
I'd go along with that. I do believe in second chances BUT only if you acknowledge what you did wrong and seek to redress it. Tbf I know little about him so we shall have to wait and see.
Some good responses and I'm equally conflicted/uncomfortable with it. Let's hope we, as a club, are as good for him and turning his life around as we are hoping he's going to be good for us.
Know exactly how you feel, the lad is here now so will have my support on the pitch and let the courts decide his guilt. But it doesn't sit well with me knowing this is hanging over him. All I can think is those at the club are more privy to details of the case than I am.
I guess I'm asking if we were wrong to lamblast clubs who signed the likes of Lee Hughes and Ched Evans? Were they actually doing a noble thing in attempting to rehabilitate them?
Not in Evan's case as he really doesn't seem to acknowledge his behaviour was in any way reprehensible. U+
Lee Hughes killed someone by reckless driving and run away from the accident probably pissed that ****** should have never played football again
It is a tough one, but I think there is a difference in that they were (at the time) convicted of something, and certainly in the case of Evan's what had emerged in his trial was someone who's behaviour was morally reprehensible and absolutely no evidence of regret. I think there is also an argument about how easy it should be to be able to pick back up a privileged career in the public eye. We know nothing of the incident with Wilks though - innocence or guilt, circumstances, character, response since. The clearest line I can draw is lets assume one of our players was charged with something they denied. I wouldn't expect them to be sacked. If they were found guilty (obviously depending on the severity of the offence) then I would expect us to tear up their contract. I think the same applies here. What I certainly hope is that club have satisfied themselves as to his moral character now.
I'm not happy about the signing. From a pragmatic perspective, I can't help but think the court case will impact on his performances and he may well miss matches. Morally I'm not sure I want lads who carry knives or hang around with others who carry knives at my club. No idea about the specifics in this case but somebody got stabbed, stabbing people is not normal or acceptable behaviour.