Adam Johnson Extremely Let Us Down- Sam Allardyce

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce says the club feel extremely let down by former player Adam Johnson. The England international was told he faces a substantial prison sentence after being found guilty of one count of sexual activity with a child at Bradford Crown Court on Wednesday.

Allardyce, who was addressing the media for the first time since the verdict was reached, condemned Johnson's actions and expressed sympathy for the victim and her family. He said “It's been very difficult to judge what is actually going on because you want to know all the facts and you want to keep your cool until the judgement has been made. Now that the judgement has been made, we all feel extremely let down by what has happened and by what Adam has done. I certainly feel a lot of sympathy for the victim and the family. Hopefully that has given them some peace and they can get on with their lives. The decision on his punishment will be given by the judge, and he has to accept that and we all have to move on”

Johnson was charged with three counts of sexual activity with a 15-year-old girl and one count of grooming on April 23, 2015 but continued to play for Sunderland after that date. Johnson pleaded guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one count of grooming on February 10 this year did the club make the decision to sack the 28-year-old.