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| Sunderland terminate Adam Johnson's contract after guilty pleas | |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Sunderland sacked Adam Johnson on Thursday night, a day after they were left stunned when he pleaded guilty to charges of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and grooming. | Sunderland sacked Adam Johnson on Thursday night, a day after they were left stunned when he pleaded guilty to charges of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and grooming. |
| Not much more than 24 hours after the 28-year-old former Middlesbrough, Manchester City and England winger had admitted kissing a child and grooming her over the internet but denied two further charges of sexual activity, the struggling Premier League club terminated his contract. It is understood club officials had been shocked by his admission of guilt after being led to believe he would plead not guilty to all four charges. | Not much more than 24 hours after the 28-year-old former Middlesbrough, Manchester City and England winger had admitted kissing a child and grooming her over the internet but denied two further charges of sexual activity, the struggling Premier League club terminated his contract. It is understood club officials had been shocked by his admission of guilt after being led to believe he would plead not guilty to all four charges. |
| Board members immediately began consultations with lawyers which concluded with his rapid dismissal. In a brief statement Sunderland said: “In light of Adam Johnson’s guilty pleas, the club has today terminated his contract with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment.” | Board members immediately began consultations with lawyers which concluded with his rapid dismissal. In a brief statement Sunderland said: “In light of Adam Johnson’s guilty pleas, the club has today terminated his contract with immediate effect. The club will make no further comment.” |
| Johnson’s once glittering career is now in ruins and, given the seriousness of the offences he has admitted, there must be serious question marks as to whether he will play professionally again. Much hinges on the outcome of his trial which gets underway on Friday at Bradford crown court. It is expected to last between 10 days and two weeks. | Johnson’s once glittering career is now in ruins and, given the seriousness of the offences he has admitted, there must be serious question marks as to whether he will play professionally again. Much hinges on the outcome of his trial which gets underway on Friday at Bradford crown court. It is expected to last between 10 days and two weeks. |
| Earlier on Thursday Sam Allardyce, Sunderland’s manager, had offered no hint of the evening’s impending drama, when he confirmed Johnson – understood to have earned around £60,000 a week – would not be involved in the squad to face Manchester United at the Stadium of the Light on Saturday lunchtime. “He will not be available for this weekend,” said Allardyce. “We will see how it goes after that.” | Earlier on Thursday Sam Allardyce, Sunderland’s manager, had offered no hint of the evening’s impending drama, when he confirmed Johnson – understood to have earned around £60,000 a week – would not be involved in the squad to face Manchester United at the Stadium of the Light on Saturday lunchtime. “He will not be available for this weekend,” said Allardyce. “We will see how it goes after that.” |
| Before Johnson’s appearance in court on Wednesday the manager had been adamant he would be available for selection against Louis van Gaal’s side but by Wednesday evening it was being made discreetly clear he had been excluded from any involvement with the first team. This was a decision applauded by many Sunderland supporters’ groups. | Before Johnson’s appearance in court on Wednesday the manager had been adamant he would be available for selection against Louis van Gaal’s side but by Wednesday evening it was being made discreetly clear he had been excluded from any involvement with the first team. This was a decision applauded by many Sunderland supporters’ groups. |
| Related: Adam Johnson trial: police warn against identification of alleged victim | Related: Adam Johnson trial: police warn against identification of alleged victim |
| By then Adidas was in the process of tearing up its boot contract – believed to be worth around £10,000 a season – with the winger. In a statement, the sportswear manufacturer said: “Adidas can confirm that it has terminated its contract with footballer Adam Johnson with immediate effect. This follows his guilty pleas entered earlier this week.” | By then Adidas was in the process of tearing up its boot contract – believed to be worth around £10,000 a season – with the winger. In a statement, the sportswear manufacturer said: “Adidas can confirm that it has terminated its contract with footballer Adam Johnson with immediate effect. This follows his guilty pleas entered earlier this week.” |
| Johnson, who joined Sunderland from Manchester City for £10m after being signed by Martin O’Neill in 2012 and has 12 England caps, was suspended by Sunderland after his arrest on 2 March last year but, following consultations with the Professional Footballers’ Association, that ban was lifted when his bail was extended by five weeks a fortnight later. | Johnson, who joined Sunderland from Manchester City for £10m after being signed by Martin O’Neill in 2012 and has 12 England caps, was suspended by Sunderland after his arrest on 2 March last year but, following consultations with the Professional Footballers’ Association, that ban was lifted when his bail was extended by five weeks a fortnight later. |
| He has made 20 first team appearances this season, the latest last Saturday at Liverpool when he stepped off the substitutes’ bench to score in a 2-2 draw. Afterwards Johnson threw his shirt into the away end. It was to be his final act as a Sunderland player. | He has made 20 first team appearances this season, the latest last Saturday at Liverpool when he stepped off the substitutes’ bench to score in a 2-2 draw. Afterwards Johnson threw his shirt into the away end. It was to be his final act as a Sunderland player. |
| He now faces the prospect of a custodial sentence with guidelines for the grooming offence suggesting a maximum prison term of two years and six months. The maximum possible sentence for the charges he denies is 14 years. | He now faces the prospect of a custodial sentence with guidelines for the grooming offence suggesting a maximum prison term of two years and six months. The maximum possible sentence for the charges he denies is 14 years. |
| The day when he broke into Middlesbrough’s first team as a 17-year-old now seems to belong to a different world. Following six seasons at The Riverside the County Durham-born winger moved to Manchester City for £7m but found opportunities limited under Roberto Mancini and leapt at the chance to sign for Sunderland, the team he had supported as a boy. | The day when he broke into Middlesbrough’s first team as a 17-year-old now seems to belong to a different world. Following six seasons at The Riverside the County Durham-born winger moved to Manchester City for £7m but found opportunities limited under Roberto Mancini and leapt at the chance to sign for Sunderland, the team he had supported as a boy. |
| Despite scoring four times as Sunderland registered six straight victories over Newcastle United Johnson has rarely fulfilled his initial promise on Wearside. No one, though, envisaged things ending as badly as this. | Despite scoring four times as Sunderland registered six straight victories over Newcastle United Johnson has rarely fulfilled his initial promise on Wearside. No one, though, envisaged things ending as badly as this. |