Sunderland chief Margaret Byrne resigns over handling of Adam Johnson case

Sunderland have said they are “so very sorry” for letting down a 15-year-old fan who was groomed and sexually exploited by ex-player Adam Johnson.

It followed chief executive Margaret Byrne’s resignation from the club after the Armagh woman admitted “a serious error of judgement” in advising the board that the winger could carry on playing after he was initially suspended last March.

Johnson, a £10 million signing, helped the Wearside team to narrowly avoid relegation from the Premier League last year under veteran Dutch boss Dick Advocaat.

Johnson was allowed to carry on playing until his trial at Bradford Crown Court where last month he stunned the club by admitting two charges of grooming the girl and kissing her.

He went on to be convicted of one further charge of sexual activity with a child.

During the trial, it emerged that on May 4, the chief executive met Johnson and Orlando Pownall QC, and she had social media messages exchanged and transcripts from police interviews in which the player admitted kissing the schoolgirl.

Pressure mounted on the club after the trial, with fans angry about what the club knew about Johnson, regardless of his stated intention to deny all charges.

Ms Byrne announced her resignation in a statement, and took full responsibility for what happened.

And the club responded saying Ms Byrne was “accountable for the actions taken by the club” and although she acted in Sunderland’s best interest, investigations found decisions were taken “in error”.

The club said: “Throughout this deeply regretful situation, we recognise that one devoted young fan and her family have been very badly let down, first and foremost by Mr Johnson and his despicable actions, but also by the club they support.

“We are so very sorry for this.”