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  • "
    Blazing Riff wrote:
    It doesn't matter one toss what Mr. Wray or Oi Den thinks the majority of posters on here do not want McCormick at our club and that's a plain fact. It doesn't matter what your interpretations of the tragic circumstances surrounding this case are or, what your opinions are regarding his reintegration to society. Pro. football is high profile, well supported and under a continuous spotlight. McCormick and Wray are showing incredible naivety if they think he will be a welcome sight on any football pitch in the land. Focusing on Swindon alone, signing this player will alienate many supporters both home and away and really the question, as some have already intimated is, 'Is it really worth it or indeed necessary?'
    Spot on"
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SWINDON TOWN: Wray explains McCormick decision

9:22am Wednesday 23rd May 2012 in Sport By Sam Morshead

Luke McCormick Luke McCormick

JEREMY Wray has said the decision to offer a trial to Luke McCormick was not taken lightly.

McCormick is currently serving a stint in prison following his conviction for causing death by dangerous driving with excess alcohol in 2008, when he was involved in a car accident that claimed the lives of Ben and Arron Peak and left their father Phil with severe injuries.

However, the 28-year-old, who has been training with Town on day release from Leyhill Prison since January, will join up with Paolo Di Canio’s Robins on trial upon his full release in June, and he will spend pre-season trying to earn a contract at the County Ground.

Wray told the Advertiser that he was surprised the story had not reached the public eye sooner, and he outlined the club’s stance on the issue.

“He’s been training with us on and off since January. He’s released from prison in June and he will be joining us in pre-season on trial to see where it goes.

“I was approached by his agent saying he was coming up to his release date and I discussed it with Nick (Watkins) and Paolo (Di Canio).

“Our view is that it is very easy to say that it’s too difficult a subject to bother with. We debated it and came up with our view.

“We thought long and hard about it, and it has to be made clear that everybody’s thoughts can only go to the family of those two young boys and their father who was badly injured.

“Tragedy is a word used too often, but this was a tragedy and it can never be changed.

“He’ll have to live with that for the rest of his life.

“Our role comes after Luke has been sentenced.

“My view is we have a criminal process that sets tariffs for different crimes.

“We don’t all agree but we have a system. Other people’s views may differ but Luke has served his time according to the tariff.

“Then, when we get approached, our role as a club becomes that of rehabilitation and integration.

“He will live with what has happened every day of his life but he has the chance to give something back, to show the tragedies of drink driving.

“We did not go courting this. I did not go looking for sensationalist headlines. It was presented to us.

“We have had to look at it in a reasonable way and look to produce a positive outcome in horrible circumstances.”

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