Crewe chairman John Bowler resigns in wake of Sheldon report findings into football’s child sex abuse scandal

Crewe chairman John Bowler this morning resigned in the wake of last week's damning report into historic child sex abuse in football, which was critical of the club.

Bowler personally apologised to survivors abused by Crewe's former youth coach Barry Bennell and said he had always intended to resign once the FA-commissioned inquiry, put together by Clive Sheldon QC and published last Wednesday, had been released.

Bowler had faced calls for his resignation after Sheldon's report found it was "likely" that three Crewe directors [including Bowler] had discussed concerns about Bennell 33 years ago, which "hinted at his sexual interest in children".

The Offside Trust, a charity set up by survivors of sexual abuse in sport, last week described Bowler's position as "untenable" and criticised Crewe's "cold, mealymouthed and legalistic" apology, which was issued over 24 hours after the release of the bombshell review.

Bennell was employed by Crewe as a youth coach for two spells between 1985 and 1992, during which time he repeatedly abused boys in his care.

In a statement, Bowler, who joined Crewe's board in 1980 and became chairman in 1987, said: "I will always be deeply appalled and sorry that those young players and their families suffered at the hands of this evil predator. I personally and sincerely apologise to them all for their suffering. Crewe is a community-based club with good people.

"I apologise to all our supporters that the name of the club has been tarnished. I have worked on the formation of a new board and know they will do all they can to move the club forward."

Sheldon's report also concluded that Crewe should have done more to investigate the circumstances of boys regularly staying

overnight at Bennell's house and found "no evidence" that the club's now-deceased chairman Norman Rowlinson heeded advice from a senior police officer to keep a "watching brief" on the prolific paedophile.

However, the review found no evidence that the club knew of Bennell's crimes, corroborating a detailed investigation by Cheshire Police into Crewe's involvement.

Bowler added: "I always intended to [stand down] following the conclusion of the Sheldon Review. As the only person left with an association to that era, I truly believe it was important for me to see it through to conclusion.

"I am satisfied with the findings of the review that found the club did not have any knowledge of Barry Bennell's heinous crimes."

Bennell, who is serving more than 30 years in prison for 50 counts of child sex abuse, was described by the judge at his trial in 2018 as the "devil incarnate".

Among his victims was Andy Woodward, the former Crewe player who waived his right to anonymity in 2016 to reveal he was abused by Bennell, prompting hundreds of other men to speak out.

Sheldon's 710-page inquiry, covering the period rom 1970 to 2005, identified 240 suspects within football and 692 survivors but concluded that it was impossible to know the true number of victims.

Read More

Dario Gradi: Former Crewe manager sorry for ‘not recognising signs of abuse’

Crewe did not heed police advice over prolific paedophile Barry Bennell, inquiry finds

Sheldon report: Unanswered questions of child sexual abuse at QPR

Dario Gradi ‘should have done more’ to help investigate Barry Bennell - Sheldon