Crewe Alexandra insist they are being ‘transparent’ in Barry Bennell case despite refusing to discuss former coach

Crewe chairman John Bowler claimed that 'ongoing legal action' prevents the club from discussing former youth coach and convicted child abuser Bennell

Crewe Alexandra officials refused to discuss the Barry Bennell case at a fans forum (PA)

Crewe Alexandra chairman John Bowler has claimed the beleaguered League Two club are being as "transparent" as possible about their former youth coach and convicted child abuser Barry Bennell.

Bowler's comments came during a fans forum titled 'Let's Talk Football' at the club's Gresty Road stadium on Monday night.

Tickets sold out prior to the event and, with tension running high after Bennell's most recent conviction, there was increased security at the door, including a bouncer with sheet of A4 paper with pictures of barred journalists.

Press Association, however, did attend and was able to record the fans' question-and-answer session with Bowler, four other directors, manager Dave Artell and his assistant Kenny Lunt.

Crewe Alexandra chairman John Bowler refused to discuss the Barry Bennell scandal (Getty)

The first question on Bennell and the abuse scandal did not come until six speakers and 30 minutes in, and Bowler stopped the questioner mid-sentence.

The 81-year-old said the board "appreciates there has been a lot of press interest" in Bennell but said Crewe were sticking to the statement they published on their website on February 15, the day the first set of verdicts were delivered against Bennell at Liverpool Crown Court.

Bowler, who joined the board in 1980, said this statement explained the "costly" things the club have been doing since the scandal broke in November 2016 and that the club have been "thoroughly" investigated by the police.

He said "in view of ongoing legal action it would be inappropriate to talk about that any further... and therefore tonight we're talking football".

Barry Bennell was sentenced to 31 years in jail earlier this month (BBC)

This legal action is understood to be civil claims for compensation from Bennell's victims.

Bowler's answer was met with loud applause from the majority of the room, a small minority of whom had grumbled when the question was asked.

That said, the questioner did respond to Bowler's answer, saying "an awful lot of fans" were deeply concerned by the scandal and its impact on the club's standing within football.

He pointed out that Crewe "did have a legal duty of care to those boys, we cannot escape that, no matter how much deception went on" and said the club's damaged reputation would hurt their ability to attract sponsors and talented young footballers.

"I think it's vital the club regains its image and does the right thing as soon as possible," the fan concluded, and he too was applauded by the majority of the room.

Bowler replied by saying "we are a community football club, owned by local people" and "we are being as fully transparent as we can".

After that exchange, the evening returned to questions about injuries, tactics, ticket prices and the legal action the directors present on Monday are taking against majority shareholder Norman Hassall.

There was one follow-up question, half an hour later, from BBC Radio Stoke's Crewe matchday commentator Graham McGarry on an allegation from ex-director Hamilton Smith about what Bowler and others at the club may have known about Bennell's behaviour. Bowler said he had nothing "at all" to add.

Crewe manager David Arnell referenced the suspended director of football Dario Gradi (Getty)

There were no specific questions about the club's director of football, board member and former manager Dario Gradi, who has been suspended by the Football Association, pending its investigation into the abuse scandal, since November 2016.

But Artell did refer to him in an answer from a fan about his relative lack of experience and whether he would like a mentor to help him develop as a manager.

"I certainly wouldn't say no," said Artell, whose young side are just six points clear of the relegation zone.

"But we've got one - we have got one, we all know we've got one - but we can't use him. Does that help me, does that help this football club? No, it doesn't."

Asked if he is allowed to speak to Gradi privately, Artell said: "I'm not allowed to speak to him full stop. So as much as I'd like to have weekly, hourly, daily chats with him, I'm not allowed to."

PA