United boss Graham Kavanagh (GK) spoke to BBC Radio Cumbria's James Phillips (JP) at Tuesday's open press conference for the local media, Kavanagh talking about a controversial trial spell at Brunton Park for Courtney Meppen-Walter and what his existing players have made of it:
GK
They have been great, they have welcomed him into the group. He has been very good, very bright, he hasn’t trained at our intensity for a while but he is coming to terms with it, he is a little bit stiff today but he has been absolutely fine. Footballers are very reasonable people, I think they understand that there have been many people in the past who have made mistakes as well have. I am sitting here now and I can quite honestly tell you now that I have made mistakes and I have done things that I regret.
But, it is one of those very, very unfortunate things that has happened and I think they all see the remorse he has shown, they see his character, he is a little bit down on himself as you would expect. He has been very, very quiet in respect of the group and very respectful of the staff. So, I haven’t got a single problem with him other than the fact that he has this hanging over his head, he seems like a pretty decent guy if I am being totally honest with you.
JP
I can think of previous examples of players with a history like this where every week it becomes something that the opposition fans pick up on, do you think the club will be able to cope with that as well Courtney?
GK
Well, if we sign him I don’t think the club will have any chance, if that is what comes with it then so be it. I mean there has been Duncan Ferguson, Lee Hughes, there has been Tony Adams, there are quite a few who have been to prison. You know, we are all the masters of our own destiny and up to this point he has made a mistake, he is going to have to live with the consequences of that, I am sure there is going to be stick that comes his way both from fans home and away.
I think the only way that he can make a name for himself now is by being ultra-clean, ultra-professional, showing that he can do as much as he can in the community to put things right and hopefully try to move forward with it. But, I do think that there will always be an element that people will remember what has happened, and some won’t forgive, a lot of people probably won’t ever forget.
But, we are just trying to give him a platform to play and make his way again in life, because I think he has had a real lot to deal with. But, I think he is facing up to it, he is taking responsibility for it and is trying to be the best he can be at this moment in time.
JP
Grant Holt has told BBC Radio Cumbria Sport that there is actually a course that Premier League clubs get put on, and the players as well, with how to deal with these sorts of circumstances. Have you had any guidance, you are quite new to management, have you had any guidance on what to do here in this scenario?
GK
No, I haven’t to be honest, I just take people at face value. I think I said yesterday that if this was a murder and he intentionally went out and had every intention of committing a crime then he wouldn’t be in the building now for me, he wouldn’t be anywhere near what we are trying to create at this football club. The kid has made a mistake, there are no two ways about that, and it is a very, very costly mistake, people have lost their lives.
So, the answer is no, I don’t really know what to be doing and saying other than seeing how he is when he walks through the door, seeing how he is when he engages with me when he looks in my eye. He does genuinely seem remorseful, he does genuinely look upset. He knows he has a real heavy burden to carry, but he is trying to move forward with his life and I will take him at face value until he does otherwise.
JP
And how has he looked as a footballer?
GK
Yeah, as I say, he hasn’t trained, he hasn’t touched a ball for a period of time, and I spoke to him this morning and he was pretty stiff. Which he is going to be, it is going to take a little bit of time for him to get up to speed with it but he has got a lot of good attributes. He is a really good size, he is a beast of a man, he is about 6’3, he is quite broad, looks very athletic, he is a left footer, he has got decent pace and we are just trying to sample every day little bits, a little bit more each time he trains, and see what qualities he possesses and see what weakness he has, but up to now he has shown up quite well.
JP
It is a two week trial, is the plan to use that whole two weeks or might you make a decision sooner depending on how he performs?
GK
No, I think it is important that we sort of get everything out of the way, obviously yesterday was the announcement and there was quite a bit of reaction to that which is absolutely fine and fair enough. I think it is important that he gets to know us and we get to know him, both his ability and his mind. As I say, he has been very, very remorseful of what has happened, he would obviously love to take that time back but not to be, and he is just ready to get on with his life and we are just trying to give him a platform to do so and give him that second opportunity that hopefully other people would do as well.
JP
Just talking to your media officer Andy Hall, he said the spread of opinion has been about 50-50, we have probably had it about 60-40 in his favour of some people saying he is a young lad who has made a mistake and deserves a second chance. Are you hopeful that people will buy into that way of looking at it further down the line with everything considered?
GK
Well, first of all I understand people’s views and opinions on it, it is a real, real tough one, it definitely splits opinion. I have no qualms about that and what has happened, two people have lost their lives and in anybody’s book that is incredibly serious. But, from the lad’s point of view I spoke to him yesterday morning, I spoke to him again this morning. I wanted to know the ins and outs of everything that happened and it was an accident, I think people have to remember that, it was an accident.
Yeah he was speeding, I think he said he was doing 56mph in a 30mph which is not right, we know that with the law it is not right. But, I am sure a lot of people have done it and certainly not had the consequences that he has had. That doesn’t make it right, I am not trying to justify it in any way shape or form, because as I say two people have lost their lives.
But, he has served his time, the justice system has decided that that was the period of time he is going to spend in prison. He would love to obviously have that time back but I think it is important that we try to move on for everybody’s sake. Obviously, the families will have lost their loved ones and we can never ever take that back but I think it is important from his point of view that he gets given a fair crack of the whip.
He is in an industry that is tough enough anyway, he is a footballer trying to make his way in the game having come from a big club. He knows he has made a big, big mistake but we are going to look at his ability, we are going to look at his attitude, we will take everything on board and hopefully we make the right judgement at the end of it.