Independent Leyton Orient Forum

https://leytonorient.com/news/2024/febr ... -contract/

Out of the game since last August when Cardiff released him after he racially abused his own teammate.

Seems genuinely remorseful. Others should take note.

Just the 62 League appearances (13 of them in Southern League Division 1) by the age of 27. Been at some decent clubs but that's a pretty low tally. Still, let's see.

That’ll help team morale. Ffs ling

We've signed players in the past who have done similar or far worse (hi Mackie, hi Omozusi) and managed to rehabilitate them back into football.

Could be a decent signing for what we need.

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:33 pm That’ll help team morale. Ffs ling

Apparently he's already met Pratley and Beckles and laid it all out with them, and they're cool with it.

Still, Neptunes Spear will be buzzing…

OyinbO wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:35 pm

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:33 pm That’ll help team morale. Ffs ling

Apparently he's already met Pratley and Beckles and laid it all out with them, and they're cool with it.

I think it's good that they've been consulted but they're not of Indian descent so should be careful of inferring "hey, it's OK, we checked with the black guys!"

OyinbO wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:35 pm

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:33 pm That’ll help team morale. Ffs ling

Apparently he's already met Pratley and Beckles and laid it all out with them, and they're cool with it.

What did he say?

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:38 pm

OyinbO wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:35 pm

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:33 pm That’ll help team morale. Ffs ling

Apparently he's already met Pratley and Beckles and laid it all out with them, and they're cool with it.

I think it's good that they've been consulted but they're not of Indian descent so should be careful of inferring "hey, it's OK, we checked with the black guys!"

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:38 pm

OyinbO wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:35 pm

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:33 pm That’ll help team morale. Ffs ling

Apparently he's already met Pratley and Beckles and laid it all out with them, and they're cool with it.

I think it's good that they've been consulted but they're not of Indian descent so should be careful of inferring "hey, it's OK, we checked with the black guys!"

His girlfriend is Indian btw. Hopefully he has learnt a lesson. Should not be banished forever imo

Long slender neck wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:40 pm What did he say?

Not great tbh
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/foo ... t-28122163

It’s weird to have a club statement that “we have no place for racism here” when they’ve just signed a player who was released for being racist.

Call me cynical, but it’s unfair and not neutral to ask existing players for their opinion about a signing like that - if the players get the impression that their opinion is immaterial to whether he’s signed, then there’s a bit of contextual pressure there.

Not saying that the guy should under no circumstances be considered for Orient - just that if you’re signing a player who did what he did, you should probably have the balls to admit that it reflects badly on a commitment to being against racism

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:38 pm

OyinbO wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:35 pm

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:33 pm That’ll help team morale. Ffs ling

Apparently he's already met Pratley and Beckles and laid it all out with them, and they're cool with it.

I think it's good that they've been consulted but they're not of Indian descent so should be careful of inferring "hey, it's OK, we checked with the black guys!"

I would hope that we had anyone of South Asian descent in the playing squad then they would have spoken with them. Wonder if they asked Ketan?

I’m less interested in the opinions of any individual south Asians in the squad who may or may not be OK with it, and may or may not feel like there would be consequences if they didn’t acquiesce, then I’m interested in whether it’s a good idea for a club to recruit a player about whom there is a legitimate expectation that non-English players and fans *could* feel uncomfortable about the signing

Proposition Joe wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:38 pm

OyinbO wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:35 pm

Rich Tea Wellin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:33 pm That’ll help team morale. Ffs ling

Apparently he's already met Pratley and Beckles and laid it all out with them, and they're cool with it.

I think it's good that they've been consulted but they're not of Indian descent so should be careful of inferring "hey, it's OK, we checked with the black guys!"

Darren Pratley is club captain and Omar Beckles is PFA chair. This is why will have been consulted, not simply because of their ethnicity. If “checking with the black guys” was the purpose then why would the many other players in the squad who are not white not have also been part of the conversation?

Assuming that the reason they were involved in the discussion is simply because of their ethnicity is in itself quite offensive and diminishes their respective roles (which they have both worked very hard to achieve).

Nonsense.

Unless the club were transparent that the players involved would actually be free to say “we don’t want this racist bumhole anywhere near the club” and then have that be acted on, then whatever their roles, the “consultation” is a tokenistic PR exercise.

Were the club captain white, it would be self evidently ridiculous for him to be considered worthy of superficial consultation about whether to hire a racist

We all make mistakes in life, second chances are there for people to prove they can change.

Be interested to hear something a bit more substantial about the circumstances in which Beckles and Pratley were involved

CEB wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:14 pm Be interested to hear something a bit more substantial about the circumstances in which Beckles and Pratley were involved

Sensible comment. We’ve just taken a boarders word for it but I’d like to see something official from the club or Pratley / Beckles themselves.

Signing this bloke is a terrible move. How can a club make a credible claim that it takes inclusivity and diversity seriously then hire a player like this?

The Reverend wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:21 pm

CEB wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 5:14 pm Be interested to hear something a bit more substantial about the circumstances in which Beckles and Pratley were involved

Sensible comment. We’ve just taken a boarders word for it but I’d like to see something official from the club or Pratley / Beckles themselves.

Signing this bloke is a terrible move. How can a club make a credible claim that it takes inclusivity and diversity seriously then hire a player like this?

It's in his interview https://www.leytonorient.com/news/2024/ ... -contract/

MassiveForehead wrote: ↑Thu Feb 29, 2024 4:35 pm We've signed players in the past who have done similar or far worse (hi Mackie, hi Omozusi) and managed to rehabilitate them back into football.

This. Didn't we sign Ricky Otto after he served time for armed robbery?

I have faith in Wellens judgement of character and how this would impact on the squad.

On him as a footballer , barely playing any senior football is a bit of a red flag for a 27 year old, but we very short in that position.

That behaviour is disgusting. I hate racists.

however, is he to be unemployed forever, 'till he dies?

He made one mistake, albeit a big one, but he apologised, and as i said, how can a young man, never be allowed to work again throughout his life, because of that mistake?

It doesn't sit well with me, but Im prepared to give the lad a chance, to make amends

“I have faith in Wellens judgment of character”

Based on what?