Derby furious with shamed stars Mason Bennett and Tom Lawrence but will NOT sack pair over drink-drive rap
MASON Bennett and Tom Lawrence DO have a future with Derby County – despite their drink drive shame. The Rams have no immediate plans to sack the pair – despite being angry with them – saying they have a duty of care to the players. But they will be heavily punished once an internal enquiry […]
MASON Bennett and Tom Lawrence DO have a future with Derby County – despite their drink drive shame.
The Rams have no immediate plans to sack the pair – despite being angry with them – saying they have a duty of care to the players.
But they will be heavily punished once an internal enquiry has decided what disciplinary measures need to be taken against them – after they dragged the club’s name through the mud.
Bennett, 23, and Lawrence, 25, are facing a magistrates’ appearance next month after bring charged following their car smash on Tuesday night and did not play in yesterday’s game with Birmingham.
But once they have been reprimanded, SunSport understands the club plan to involve them in the Derby County’s Community Trust as a way of re-educating the players following the crash which also left Richard Keogh badly injured.
Club captain Keogh is out for the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury.
But Derby are also aware that Lawrence’s mother died recently and boss Phillip Cocu is aware that the club need to keep an eye on him rather than ending his contract.
Rams bosses are also keen to make both players aware of life outside the football ‘bubble’.
But at the moment, the club are still compiling reports and statements from those involved.
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And they are still some way from releasing their findings.
But chairman Mel Morris is understood to be keen to deal with the players as human beings once any punishment has been dealt out.
The club are furious that some players stayed out drinking following a team bonding day when they players went bowling followed by dinner at Derby pub The Joiner’s Arms.
