Port Vale close in on Lee Hughes signing

“Hasod, what can I say to this - it is, of course, something that Mr Graham's family have had to try to deal with since Hughes resumed his playing career in 2007 and something they will have to continue to cope with as long as he continues to have a public profile.

I abhor what Hughes did, particularly his cowardly behaviour following the incident, but upon release the emphasis has to be upon rehabilitation - I know there are many who feel he should rot in jail - or worse, I may agree, but the reality is that he was released and we cannot change that.

I am not completely comfortable with the idea of Hughes pulling on a Vale shirt, but he is a professional footballer and that is what he does. Hughes is, of course, just one of a long line who have come to grief as a result of the dangerous combination of footballer + alcohol + car. Sometimes the result is confined to damage to reputations, cars and/or buildings - Tony Adams, Jermaine Pennant (how many second chances has he had?) other times, tragically, the cost is a human one. Bob Newton, for example, was jailed in 1979 after killing a Harlepool teamate who was a passenger in his car. The really sad thing is, that from time to time, the list will continue to grow. Perhaps it is something the FA and PFA should be looking at?”

“Glennard : I wonder how the children of the late Douglas Graham will feel when they read and hear about the footballer that killed their father getting praised up for goals etc . I wonder where any of us would be now if we had killed someone with hit and run ... We wouldn't be writting on here folks ..”

“Not exactly a role-model, but football & morality seem largely divorced from each other these days. The reality is he made a terrible mistake, with truly dreadful consequences. He has since been tried, convicted and punsished according to the law of the land and that, whether we like it or not, is that. Fair play to him, I guess for the efforts he has made since release and, who knows, he could be a positive influence in the dressing room both in terms of his football experience and as a reminder of how things can easily go tragically wrong for young men with comparatively high wages, flash cars and lots of time on their hands.”

“Ex Conn!!!!!!!!!!!! should NOT be allowed SCUM Hughes”

“If promotion rests on whether we have Hughes or not, I accept Hughes. I do not expect him to play all the time, but to take the weight off the others. He is also very good at riling defences, which will be a change for us, in what is a tough league. With Purse it the other end, we should hold our own.”

“by PVFC_Reading - "PVFCinLincs - the two are nowhere near comparable. How can you say that accidentally breaking someones leg during a football match is on a par with killing people through drink driving and running away?!"

Hasod's comment: Also got sent off for putting someone in hospital while playing football for the prison.

I am referring to Hasods comment where Hughes is suppose to have put someone in hospital while in prison. That is why I brought the McCoombe accident up.

I am not referring to his drink drive accident at all. Personnally anyone drink driving should be done for murder, as they know exactly that they can kill someone while under the influence. But that is for another thread.”

“Whilst agreeing with everything said below he is a proven goal scorer and if he can pop in one or two of those chances we seem to be missing in the recent future he may just be the one who secures us those extra few points we need for automatic promotion. Rather he be on our books than one of the chasing teams and if he fails to deliver on that he won`t be in the team anyway.

Just hope his style doesn`t get in the way of Tom Pope who has blossomed as the key goal getter this season with Richards out of the way. Just hope Hughes plays to Pope and not take chances from him.”

“PVFCinLincs - the two are nowhere near comparable. How can you say that accidentally breaking someones leg during a football match is on a par with killing people through drink driving and running away?!

I am not doubting his quality as a footballer. However, this is in not the kind of signing that we need to be making if we want to be a club for the community.”

“Hasod, He was and he has worked to sort his life out. Does work to highlight drink driving and is trying to give back to the community. He has split the fan base by his off the field antics, but think he will add to the field.

Will you hold McCoombe in the same light, he put a player in hospital as well. Double standards may be?”

“Bad move vale Mr Hughes makes poor PR for any club he lands at”