Hudgell: Cockayne attack was "atrocious"
The chairman of Rovers has said he cannot condone or justify Ben Cockayne's assault.
The club have now suspended the 25-year-old player after he was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years for his part in the attack in November 2007.
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Neil Hudgell
The decision to suspend Cockayne without pay was sanctioned in a meeting of the club's board of directors.
Neil Hudgell said: "We have decided under the circumstances that we won't terminate Ben's contract, but what we will do is put some measures in place that enable him to come back into this club as a better individual and a better and more positive ambassador for the club.
"Ben was sentenced to a period of imprisonment that was suspended, but on top of that, he was ordered to do a period of community service.
"We think it is appropriate that Ben gets that out of the way and pays his dues to society before he can be considered for first team selection.
"We have suspended Ben from first team selection, either until he completes his community service or until June 1."
The Rovers chairman said he took a dim view of the video footage that captured the assault.
He said: "I think my view is the same as any right-minded person, it was pretty atrocious.
"It speaks for itself, there is no way anybody could condone, or justify or excuse, what has gone on in that video, regardless of any suggestions of provocation or anything.
"I think that the video speaks for itself and there cannot be any justification for those actions."
12 Comments
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by MARK, HULL
Friday, April 10 2009, 3:50AM
“Captain Mark from India. I am neither a thug or a mental case,i just wondered if NH would have the same feelings and back this guy if he were the victim? Probably NOT!!!!”
by Hull F C, Fan
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 6:51PM
“Rovers must be just desperate thats all i can say as they dont have enough quality players in their team!
Just aload of thugs and dead heads!”
by Hully Bully, HULL
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 4:25PM
“At least the chairman hasnt swept it under the carpet. He could hardly terminate his contract when he bent over backwards to keep Paul Cooke out of prison. The HDM are guilty for building Cockayne up, he's not a star at all, he's an idiot. But you have done the self and same thing with Marlon King tonight. King was not a Hull City player when he was involved with this latest incident. He was a Wigan player on loan to City, who got rid the second this incident was made known to them.”
by j, hull
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 4:22PM
“If one stamps on somebody's head, you deserve to go to jail, no matter what you do for a living. Surely the intention is to cause serious damage.”
by john, Hull
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 3:54PM
“NH "It speaks for itself, there is no way anybody could condone, or justify or excuse, what has gone on in that video,".
You just have by continuing to employ this animal. Shame on you and KR.”
by Ian, Hull
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 3:23PM
“Would NH be so lenient if one of the employees of his law firm had been convicted of the same offence and received the same sentence?”
by Carroll, Beverley
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 2:31PM
“OK so it was an appalling although provoked attack but Rugby League is by nature a violent and agressive sport. Why is everyone pretending they are shocked that one of the players is violent.
What is all this rubbish about being an ambassador. He is there to play and win rugby matches. If you want an ambassador get a politician not a rugby player..”
by Captain Mark, India
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 2:04PM
“Mark. I sense an irony in your post.
On the one hand you (quite rightly) express your outrage at the thugs and mental cases in our game. Then you go and spoil it all at the end by expressing the hope that one of them inflicts violence on an innocent person.
It's left me wondering whether you should best be described as a thug or simply a mental case.”
by mark, hull
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 12:39PM
“mike if you had half of a brain cell and read my comment correctly you would have realised that i have slagged fc off also for the same thing!!! moron!”
by Sickened, Hull
Wednesday, April 08 2009, 12:26PM
“"We think it is appropriate that Ben gets that out of the way and pays his dues to society before he can be considered for first team selection."
GETS THAT OUT OF THE WAY - what like its a minor detail and just brush it under the carpet??”