Crewe chairman John Bowler stands down in wake of Sheldon Review into sexual abuse scandal

Crewe Alexandra chairman John Bowler has resigned in the wake of the Sheldon Review, which criticised the club’s handling of the sexual abuse scandal. The recent report by Clive Sheldon QC said the club should have done more to safeguard children, given the hierarchy had been warned by a senior police officer to keep a “watching brief” on Bennell. “The club wholeheartedly regrets and is sorry to every survivor of abuse that it was unaware of Bennell’s offending.” The Offside Trust, a charity set up by survivors of sexual abuse in sport, described Crewe’s statement as “cold” and “mealy-mouthed”. “There is always room for improvement and as a club will welcome the future recommendations of The Sheldon Review.” The report made 13 key recommendations to the Football Association to ensure future safeguarding of children in football, including a board member at every club becoming a safeguarding champion, an annual review of spot-checks that grassroots clubs can carry out, and the employment of safeguarding officers at all professional clubs.