Sorry seems to be the hardest word for Crewe’s board as the denial deepens

NO tribute, no apology. Welcome to Crewe Alexandra, a club in denial.

On Thursday Barry Bennell, a former Crewe coach, was found guilty of the final seven of 50 counts of sex abuse on 12 victims.

Of those brave dozen, three waived their anonymity. Each was molested by Bennell while coming through the ranks at Crewe. The court heard of one attack inside the Gresty Road dressing room.

Crewe refuse to accept responsibility and have failed to apologise.

In a statement following the final verdicts they expressed their ‘deepest sympathies’ to the victims before reiterating their stance that the club ‘was not aware of any sexual abuse... nor did it receive any complaint about sexual abuse’ by Bennell during his two stints there between 1985 and 1992.

Crewe’s match against Colchester yesterday could have been viewed by the board as an opportunity to praise the former players who came forward to bring Bennell to justice. Men who felt let down by the club. There was nothing.

No comment from chairman John Bowler, who has been at Crewe since 1987. Nothing from director of football Dario Gradi, who remains suspended by the FA and who wrote a character reference for Bennell when he was first arrested for sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy in 1994.

Crewe flatly denied our request to cover the game yesterday. I bought a ticket.