Regardless of whether or not we're run by the same people anymore we literally ARE the same club. If it does indeed transpire that in the past, employees of the club turned a blind eye to child abuse, then I don't think the club will put up any form of defence. I'm sure they will express their horror at what has happened and demonstrate that the current regime has safeguards in place (i think we already did our own investigation into it), but they will still accept any punishment (which is the correct course of action in my opinion). There has to be recourse to hold an organisation accountable for this kind of thing no matter how long ago it was.
Seems there's a few people in here who are more bothered about how this reflects on City rather than what those boys were subjected to. I think there's a very good chance people at City knew about Bennell and their failure to act allowed more boys to be raped and abused. Sorry if it's hard for City fans to hear, but our own discomfort at hearing those truths is totally irrelevant when compared to what the victims have been through. Any sensible person should be able to see that it shouldn't necessarily reflect on those involved with the club now, but that doesn't mean we should try to bat these claims away to protect the club's reputation (which is precisely what people did 30 years ago).
Should also add, as someone else has pointed out, that whilst I think employees at City were probably aware, it's also likely it was endemic through the game and ignored at all levels. So whilst I have no issue with City being taken to task over this, I also expect other organisations to be also held to account and all of them should accept any punishment coming their way.
