PILGRIMS PROVIDE PROGRESS LESSON

Plymouth Argyle Football Club have today provided an object lesson in how to respond when one of their employees gets himself in deep trouble with the law.

Their 24-year-old goalkeeper, Luke McCormick, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and driving with excess alcohol last month following a motorway accident in which two young boys were killed.
McCormick appeared in court on June 6 and was released on bail. He is due to appear in court again in September

In a statement, the club said: "We have advised Luke McCormick that, in light of current circumstances, he has been suspended by the club and so will not be required to attend pre-season training." A concise, short statement that says much about the way in which the club is managed. It is positive, clear and entirely appropriate for the circumstances.

Now, although they may not quite be in the same league as far as degrees of criminality are concerned, nevertheless it is interesting to contrast the stance Plymouth have taken with those of Newcastle and my beloved Saints.

Newcastle have among their ranks that serial malcontent Joey Barton, who may today have been released from a custodial sentence following a conviction for assault and who only yesterday was perhaps surprisingly handed only a suspended sentence for yet another wholly reprehensible incident involving a team mate. And yet, for all of this, Newcastle have yet to do anything about Barton`s continued employment with them, although they do threaten to begin talks with him about his future now that he is free to walk the streets for a while.

In Southampton`s case, two of their players, Nathan Dyer and Bradley Wright-Phillips are accused of stealing cash, mobile phones and other valuables from the staff room of a Southsea night club where the employees are alleged to earn less than the minimum wage, whereas the two accused are on literally thousands of pounds each week. They have already made one appearance before the Portsmouth beak and are due back in court again next week. So far, Southampton Football Club have done nothing to tackle this issue. Well, apart from ordering Dyer to train with the youth team as he is apparently in dispute with the club over a contract wrangle.

It strikes me that Plymouth have dealt with their `problem` quickly, correctly and appropriately and in the process have shown leadership and clarity of purpose. Their action not only reflects well on them but also shows up Newcastle and Southampton (I am sorry to say) for the hesitant, drifting organisations they have become. I`m afraid I am not prepared to spend any more of my money to watch the Dyers and Wright-Phillips` of this world strutting around a football pitch. That will only change if Saints finally discover purposeful personnel management, which has been conspicuous by its absence. I have my principles even if they don`t have theirs.