marks

You stated that you were unfamiliar with the full details of the case, illinformed. You are judging the potential consequences by saying he should be sacked, it is all guess work on both sides of the debate. How do you know that sacking him will make him less of a risk? I have stated why I believe keeping him employed would help with his treatment. Paedofilia is the sexual attraction to adolecents, Thomson made that link through his actions, not me. He was an 18 year old at the time of the offences, the offences were a silly thing to do, I don't know about you but I believe no matter how much an 18 year old has lived they still have a lot of growing up to do, hence my description of him being a "silly wee boy" at the time. You allude to having experience in the mental helth proffession, you tell me whether it would be easier to treat a person with one mental health issue by adding the problem of taking away their livelyhood, by giving them more to worry about, by possibly driving them further into depression. I never defended his actions, they were wrong, no arguement there but he has been punished by the courts what gives anyone else the right to add to that punishment?

There's no doubt we were a pivotal stepping stone but he's a Ross-shire lad who would have made it anyway, I'm glad we helped along the way. We can't claim all the credit though.

I would have said he was more of a Ross County success story given that he trained/played there since a youth and we only had him for a couple of seasons. From what I hear Don is a staggy through and through.

"Can it be treated, no I don't think so." I am sorry I took this statement to mean that you thought that there was no way of treating this mental health issue. "I do however think that now-a-days those in positions are all to quick to jump and say that everything is to do with mental health problems" I also took this to mean that you were sceptical that someone who has a sexual attraction to minors does not have something wrong with them mentally. Again if not, i apologise. Now to answer your question, I am not a psychologist and I have not spoken to Thomson so I have now idea if he has psychopathic tendancies (the ability to act without empathy towards others, psychopathy is not restricted to inherintly evil people read Flipnosis by Kevin Dutton it is very informative) so I cannot comment at all on his thought process whilst he carried out these crimes. I am focusing on what I can form an opinion on and I feel that forcing a man into a worse position than he is in will ultimately make the job of dealing with his problems a lot harder and may even increase his problems to a stage where he becomes more of a risk thean he currently is. Like I said too many people with ill informed opinions ready to force their way of thinking without thinking of the potential consequences.

Simply because pedofilia is recognised as a mental health issue, would you rather he recieved no help and his condition continued or would you just prefer he was put to death? Why makee a problem worse when it is recognised that it can be treated? I'm certainly not saying that he should be put to death, you wrote that not me and nor am I intimating that he should not get the help you are suggesting he should, I do however think that now-a-days those in positions are all to quick to jump and say that everything is to do with mental health problems. Can it be treated, no I don't think so. Once someone has these thoughts especially in terms of peadophillia it is very difficult to change their views and thoughts. Yes the courts have dealt with it but I bet you if you took 5 judges and asked them to sit on the case they all would have gave out slightly different judgements, just because one person or a couple of so called professional say that he doesn't pose a risk doesn't mean that they are correct. Anyone can sit with psycologists and whoever else was brought in to assess him and say they are very sorry and it is not in their character or nature and they won't do it again etc etc but do they really mean it? And yes when he is in a position like he is where children can idolise him and go to watch him play football I do think it's not an environment where he should be placed. The main outcry from this whole episode has come from the way that the club have reacted to it and how they have protrayed it to the media themselves and their ridiculous way of dealing with it, they are almost just as bad as he is with some of the statements they have come away with!! You must have spent over a decade in further education to gain your expertese in law, psychology and morality. You my friend have to be respected. Maybe you could share some of your thoughts on this piece, I know it's wikipedia but you could perhaps indulge me in explaining why some of the cited parts of it are, in your opinion nonsense? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedofilia

Simply because pedofilia is recognised as a mental health issue, would you rather he recieved no help and his condition continued or would you just prefer he was put to death? Why makee a problem worse when it is recognised that it can be treated?

I'm sorry but I have to totally disagree with you on this one and also your previous quote. Lets get one thing straight he (Thompson) took away his prospects when he did what he did, a disgusting act that should in no way be condoned or glorified or glossed over. I like many others on this post will not apologise for calling for him to be sacked and nor do I think that our outcry has been caused by the media. Whatever way you look at it it would have became public knowledge and there would have been the same outpouring as there has been regardless of how it was portayed. Why are you focusing on him and his position and his mental health and helping him overcome his problems, all too often the people in authority or think they know better due to years of studying from books proclaim that the convicted is in fact the victim, read your post and basically that's how it reads. He is not the victim, he is the convicted of a sick crime that should not be shyed away from. Lets take a moment to think about the actual victims of this and how they feel and how they felt during the ordeal, children manipulated by an adult who should know better and have values but clearly he doesn't. Why should he be allowed to continue as normal??? He should be allowed to continue as normal because A, the courts have dealt with this matter and it has nothing to do with you whether he remains in a job or not, you and many others are mearly seeking to extend his punishment by driving his employers into finishing his career. If the courts decided he was a danger to children and should not be allowed within a set proximity to them then that would be their decision. B, extracted from http://www.acas.org.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=1043 Everyone who has called for this young man's dismissal are no better than non violent vigilantes, who should have a little more regard for the law.

Perhaps some have been given the courage to come forward or perhaps they have sniffed some criminal injuries compensation, one thing is for sure though, it will not be down to you or me to decide but qualified persons directing a jury of his peers.

Sorry, I do not know what you want from me, what is giving you cause for concern from my post? I am saying that if he was allowed to continue as normal he could have a better chance to move on from this issue and work through his problems but by taking away all of his prospects it is possible that he could be forced into a position where is mental health is adversely affected and where helping him overcome his problems would be made harder.

The post you replied to was removed because it never brought anything to the discussion and was little more than a cheap swipe, sorry. But the point is, Thomson's position was not youth coach, it was not a position which required him to have access to children at all. He would be of no risk to your children or any other children for that matter, in the course of his position at HMFC. The man has made a mistake and been punished for it. His punishment was imposed by a sheriff who through years of study of law and with ALL of the facts at disposal decided that the punishment did not require restriction on Thomson's movement in the proximity of children or contact with children. Employment law states that conviction of a crime should not be used for disciplinary procedures unless it has an effect on the ability to perform a job or has an adverse effect on the employer's business. There was no adverse effect on HMFC's business until sensastionalised journalism made easily influenced persons such as yourself rise up in mock outrage. Your kids would never have been in danger but now Thomson is unlikely to get his job back, he is unlikely to gain employment and has the next five years to spend mulling over his predicament, letting his mind run in overdrive and then disappear from the radar of all watching him, to god knows where, with god knows how many twisted thoughts running through his head for five years. Who knows he might even decide to move away from the community, which has ostrasised him, next door to you and you would never know. Maybe better to keep him busy, keep him active and work with him to change his ways. He was a stupid wee boy when he commited these offenses, he could have grown up into a footballer but now he is more likely to grow into a bitter twisted young adult.

I agree that he should be suspended now pending an internal enquiry into his suitability to carry on in his position, given the fact the club are losing money through sponsorship and possible future fans due to the schools refusal to carry on with training days but the sherriff in the case stated that he was not considered a risk to children and imposed no restrictions on his working with children or vunerable adults. Also, there is a precident in law that everyone is innocent until proved guilty so if he was suspended when charged pending an internal inquiry and that inquiry forced his dismissal what would have happened if he had been found innocent? There are too many people with ill informed opinions ready to wreck careers. Public opinion, based on cherry picked facts and sensationalised journalism, is what has forced sponsors to withdraw. The legal expert who sat over the case decided on this man's ability to work with children but the tabloids, driven by sales, forced public opinion to drive him out of his career.

http://www.highland-news.co.uk/News/Adam-Rooney-seals-deal-at-Birmingham-City-30062011.htm

Pi+tau=

Hopefully he gets into the box before getting kicked, play to your strengths as doofersdad says.

good job, thanks caleyrule and pullmyfinger

Thanks for the service and goals Adam, good luck with the new club.

According to this article posted at 11am Terry Gornell has agreed a two year deal with Accrington Stanley. http://www.lancashir...Stanley_invite/ Apologies it looks like the page has been changed since I last looked Looks like the sports reporter is not so good with the lancashire Telegraph. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/9111198.Trio_sign_new_Accrington_Stanley_deals/

Crawley may end up being the next Hull City, if Rooney goes there I hope they have all the success they aspire to, it's great to see wee clubs doing their best to unseat the dinosaurs of the game. It's not that long ago we were ambitious wee upstarts.

Mention of the Birmingham interest in this link but also a wee glimmer of hope for all of you guys who have not given up on the Ginger one returning. http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/hughton-targets-rooney-signing-2808244.html

To be fair I think the wee man had a helping hand.

HN report seems to rate Gilbert as the "pick" of the trialists. http://www.highland-news.co.uk/Sport/Football/Trialists-impress-as-Caley-Thistle-beat-Clach-28062011.htm

The latest HN story only says "Butcher has shown an interest in Accrington Stanley striker Gornell" http://www.highland-news.co.uk/Sport/Football/Trialists-impress-as-Caley-Thistle-beat-Clach-28062011.htm But searching "Caley Thistle" on google news birngs up this "Highland News - Paul Chalk - 16 hours ago Gornell said: "I'm delighted to join Caley Thistle and am really looking forward to life in the SPL. "I had enjoyed my time at Accrington, but felt it was ..." The story is still hidden though.

Jimmy Johnstone 5'2", it is hard to figure out why there is such an emphasis on power in the Scottish game now.

Good things, small packages?

Your use of the phrase "new boy", does that mean he has signed? Or is he a trialist?