to think that a professional football player who has recently been convicted of child sex offences should be bloody well sacked?

[MollysChamber]

Craig Thomson here

This is really making my blood boil. Horrible offences. Basically grooming of a 14 year old and a 12 year old he's known since she was a toddler ffs.

Today Hearts FC released a statement saying that they are not sacking him and he has made a half arsed statement apologising to the club, his family and friends, but not his victims, oh no.

Apparently the club were warned about his behaviour by a concerned parent 6 months before his arrest but he continued to represent them teaching PE at local schools here

Am I being unreasonable to think that he should be sacked?

sorry Mollychambers,

YANBU!!!

YANBU,shocking.

My husband is a Jambo (I'm a hibby ) however he's embarrassed by it, and the romanov statement didn't help matters last night! I cannot believe he hasn't been sacked, i though it would be a given!

inneedabodytransplant

according to the latest scuttle-bucket the little bastard seems to think that because of who he is and what he does - (you know he's a premier league footballer who plays for a prestigious team in Edinburgh) basically he can do what he likes and we should all worship at his feet cos he is fabulous!!!!

• one word WANKER

YANBU - I think it's a bloody disgrace, what sort of message is this sending out, especially to all the young fans??? I'm hoping the uproar about this will mean that Hearts change their mind about this in due course and get shot of him. It's outrageous. Feckin' outrageous.

When is he next playing? I'm hoping the fans give him what for next time he plays, and the chants of 'feckin peodo' during the match make the Hearts managers change their mind.

I'm not a jambo. Was a hibby once upon a time. But if it was a hibby I'd still think the same!

unfortunately the club chairman is more likely NOT to sack him in the face of public outcry but rather stick to his guns and let him play. Wouldn't be surprised if "mad auld vlad" makes him team captain

surely, as he would fail a CRB check, he'd have to be sacked as being a professional footballer involves having access to chilren (mascots and junior team etc)??

YANBU he should not be allowed to carry on playing and I would not be surprised if that teams supporters protested to that effect. Or at least I would hope they would

BeerTricksPotter- fantastic idea, let's hope so.

Sex offenders living in the community are allowed to be in employment as long as they remain within rules regarding access to children etc. I feel that this is correct. He should be paying taxes and doing something productive and above board rather than claiming benefits or earning on the sly doing god knows what. I agree that it will be very difficult for him to remain a public figure and he is certainly no role model but assuming his conviction does not affect his ability to do his job he should be allowed to continue.

dons hard hat

Well the football season here hasnt started yet. I should imagine when it does start this convicted paedophile footballers position will become untenable. The opposition fans will have a field day! Romanov is off his head, heard they released some statement today about mafia influences.

Thing is I don't think it would necessarily be the end of his career if he was sacked by Hearts. He may find another club.

I think his position is untenable.

As a club Hearts will (I would think) be involved in youth training, summer football camps, visiting sick kids in hospital, childrens charities, fun days, visiting schools and all the other community things that are part of football (in Scotland anyway).

Not to mention walking out of the tunnel hand in hand with a mascot on occasion.

He won't be able to do any of these things. This isn't something that will go away. It will remain an issue in his place of work for the four years that he is on the sex offenders register and beyond.

Also he is in a profession where he is a high profile public figure and hero-worshipped by the fans. What kind of message does this send?

I feel so sorrry for the girls involved in this case. It must seem to them and their families that he has got off with it.

It has been said the players and manager don't want to work with him. The majority of fans want him gone.

Tbh I think he's either very brave or very stupid (more likely) to want to play for Hearts again. He is going to dogs abuse from both sets of supporters.

Molly - well said

That's is absolutely disgraceful he should be sacked along with whoever was warned about him.

Disgusting. YANBU. At all.

Jesus Christ.This counrty

My dad who is a life long jambo says he'll stop supporting them until Romanov leaves. The stadium is opposite a high school!!!! The victims have never had an apology yet the club and his family have!!! And a £4000 fine to be paid at £300 a month is ridiculous.

There are many unhappy jambo's just now but remember it's the mafia's fault as well as Gary McKay's fault as it's 3 of his clients (he's an agent) who've been in trouble.

Actually, what the hell is it saying to him about his behaviour??

"Ach well, never mind son."

From his statement it doesn't sound like he's filled with shame and remorse. If anything he comes across as an arrogant little git who thinks it's all over with. Aye right, think on.

Oh and at the last Edinburgh Derby, the hibs East Stand kept chanting Beast Beast Beast. Awkward questions from 3 8 year olds for the dad's there.

This doesn't surprise me in the least, girls are seen as fair game by many men.
A wonderful young women who I love dearly has been to hell and back because of a teacher who behaved like this.
She had the support of an amazing police officer but the school, the LEA, the judicial system all let her down.
However, she went on Slutwalk to stand up for fellow victims of rape and injustice and is so emotionally literate now, she is going to have an amazing life despite his disgusting predatory behaviour.

I, myself, would cheerfully castrate the bastard with a rusty spoon.

And the footballer too, so no YANBU!!

Fucking 'learning curve'

So glad it didnt go further, but those poor young girls.

He should be sacked, I wonder how his fellow team members feel towards him?