Sunderland ‘very sorry’

Sunderland AFC has said it was “so very sorry” for letting down a 15-yearold fan who was groomed and sexually exploited by ex-player Adam Johnson.

It followed chief executive Margaret Byrne’s resignation from the club after she admitted “a serious error of judgment” in advising the board that the star winger could carry on playing after he was initially suspended last March.

Johnson was allowed to carry on playing until his trial at Bradford Crown Court where last month he stunned the club by admitting two charges of grooming the girl and kissing her.