Marlon King

[Colinjb]

And that's the part I have issue with; that he is not allowed to continue is his previous profession just because it's high profile and for the image it projects. As I've said, I completely agree from a moral standpoint, I'd much prefer it my club decided not to hire such individuals. But some club will, as they will consider that he has paid his price to society and is entitled to a career doing what he's best at, and as unpalatable as some may find it I think that's the right course of action.

 

And many people who commit lesser offences then King are denied this. That is why I take issue with him, it cannot be one rule for one and another for the footballer.

[The Kraken]

And many people who commit lesser offences then King are denied this. That is why I take issue with him.

 

How do you mean; what type of example?

[Colinjb]

How do you mean; what type of example?

 

A man refused a career at an automotive supplier as a designer because he has a conviction for assault (just the one conviction, after a night out and alcohol influenced, no defence but less happens to many, and this was an isolated incident), despite his masters degree in engineering.

 

He served his time! Went through the motions, but now works in McDonalds, and is lucky to have the job.

Edited 18 September, 2011 by Colinjb

[The Kraken]

A man refused a career at an automotive supplier as a designer because he has a conviction for assault, despite his masters degree in engineering.

 

He served his time! Went through the motions, but now works in McDonalds, and is lucky to have the job.

 

But is that not just one company choosing not to hire him? It's not a whole industry that was shutting him out.

[Colinjb]

But is that not just one company not choosing to hire him? It's not a whole industry that was shutting him out.

 

You ask him that. Apparently there is a skills shortage in engineering. Not that he would know, criminal convictions deprive people of fulfilling their talent every day, but because it's football it's a different rule set. Not just in this case but many others. At a lesser level there are lads in my local who struggle to get menial jobs, they have petty offences on their criminal records but cannot get a job of any real sort because they are considered a risk.

 

At most levels of society a criminal record is considered a handicap and seriously effects career prospects never mind talent, never mind ability and willing. It is something that scars and masks peoples lives..... yet footballers live on a different plain.

Edited 18 September, 2011 by Colinjb

[The Kraken]

You ask him that. Apparently there is a skills shortage in engineering. Not that he would know, criminal convictions deprive people of fulfilling their talent every day, but because it's football it's a different rule set.

 

It isn't though. It's perhaps just that those companies have higher morals than football clubs and don't want an ex-con on their books. There's nothing to stop those companies hiring him, it's that they choose not to.

 

Perhaps if football clubs were put under much more pressure from their fans, they wouldn't hire someone like King. Unfortunately it's a results driven business and club owners and even the majority of fans will be entirely forgiving if he performs on the pitch.

[Colinjb]

It isn't though. It's perhaps just that those companies have higher morals than football clubs and don't want an ex-con on their books. There's nothing to stop those companies hiring him, it's that they choose not to.

Perhaps if football clubs were put under much more pressure from their fans, they wouldn't hire someone like King. Unfortunately it's a results driven business and club owners and even the majority of fans will be entirely forgiving if he performs on the pitch.

 

Then I will maintain my viewpoint. I respect you said that you agree with the moral standpoint, but I do not see how that equates to your thought of it being a deprivation of rights that someone is deprived of fulfilling their talent when that is evidently something that occurs in most industries where a criminal record is concerned.

 

If more people protested at individuals like King getting a contract after prison release then maybe there would be hope.... alas I remember the Cov fans celebrating the coup..... they reaped what they sowed.

[The Kraken]

Then I will maintain my viewpoint. I respect you said that you agree with the moral standpoint, but I do not see how that equates to your thought of it being a deprivation of rights that someone is deprived of fulfilling their talent when that is evidently something that occurs in most industries where a criminal record is concerned.

 

If more people protested at individuals like King getting a contract after prison release then maybe there would be hope.... alas I remember the Cov fans celebrating the coup..... they reaped what they sowed.

 

I would much prefer it if my club decided not to employ people like King, but I do not believe he should be banned from football. You seem to be suggesting he should be, but your examples are not of people being banned from their industries, rather of companies within those industries having much more of a moral compass than football clubs as to not want someone "like that" on their staff. So really the fault is with the morally bankrupt football clubs who employ him, and not the law in general.

 

Banning King from football would be akin to banning another ex-con from the cleaning profession, simply because that's what he used to work as before, he enjoyed it very much, and therefore he should be made to struggle further by retraining for a different job.

[Colinjb]

I would much prefer it if my club decided not to employ people like King, but I do not believe he should be banned from football. You seem to be suggesting he should be, but your examples are not of people being banned from their industries, rather of companies within those industries having much more of a moral compass than football clubs as to not want someone "like that" on their staff. So really the fault is with the morally bankrupt football clubs who employ him, and not the law in general.

 

Banning King from football would be akin to banning another ex-con from the cleaning profession, simply because that's what he used to work as before, he enjoyed it very much, and therefore he should be made to struggle further by retraining for a different job.

 

I can't disagree with that and I would go along with the logic you are suggesting, although retraining doesn't mean shaking off your record.

 

What is the point of a record if it is not a trace of behaviour? If all crimes are repent after the punishment is served why keep a record? You missbehave you pay the consequence, the industry should be a secondary issue.... so yes, let the cleaner reflect. And the morally bankrupt clubs, that's were we come in.... and they do have a lot to answer for.

[Benali Saint]

The guy is utter utter filth. How has been granted another go at a footballing career is one thing, and that he then promptly stabbed the club that bent over backwards for him (Coventry) can only reinforce the fact that he is utterly beneath contempt.

 

Couldnt agree more.

A horrible human being

[Jack]

Think this is all getting a bit too serious. It is football crowd banter. Either King is just an utterly sh*t footballer now (slightly unlikely seeing as he's starting for Brum), he just had an off day, or the hostility from the Northam got to him. I say well done the saints fans if there's even a chance the latter is the reason for his poor performance.

[ant]

You cannot stop a club from hiring somebody with the rap sheet of King and neither should that be an option. However you'd hope that they'd be scrupulous enough not to want to in the first place - is that not the crux of what we're getting at here?

 

Serving your time in prison grants you the right to return to society and little more. Even if that absolves you in the eyes of the law, is it really that much of a surprise that for some people (the victim(s) for one) a criminal's existence will forever be tarnished? Obviously dealing with the emotional fallout long outlasts a sentence.

 

Is it right for other people to chastise? I don't think it's ever going to be black and white enough to make the call.

[Ken Tone]

I would much prefer it if my club decided not to employ people like King, but I do not believe he should be banned from football. You seem to be suggesting he should be, but your examples are not of people being banned from their industries, rather of companies within those industries having much more of a moral compass than football clubs as to not want someone "like that" on their staff. So really the fault is with the morally bankrupt football clubs who employ him, and not the law in general.

 

Banning King from football would be akin to banning another ex-con from the cleaning profession, simply because that's what he used to work as before, he enjoyed it very much, and therefore he should be made to struggle further by retraining for a different job.

 

For example you can't work in education with a conviction, even after it is officially 'spent', ie out of date. This is not just to do with offences against children, or anything else that might put childen directly at risk; it is pretty much any criminal offence --eg the first convicted looter who was an assistant (not a teacher as such) in a primary school lost his job. This is presumably about setting a moral example because those in education are seen as role models by children. So for me the question is are footballers also seen as role models? And I reckon the answer is yes.

 

At my club I don't want to be cheering for a player who is a **** like King, and if I was a Birmingham fan, I'd not be happy that Brum had employed him.