Planet Swans ArchivesIn light of the recent arrest of defender Izzy Iriekpen, Swansea City have acted swiftly and placed a ban on players ‘socialising’ in the town centre – mainly on Friday and Saturday nights.
Izzy this afternoon also issued an apology for his part in the events “I want to be appearing on the back pages of the newspapers, not the front, and I want to say sorry to all Swansea fans for being involved in something like this,” the 24-year-old said. “I have also apologised to the gaffer.”
Chairman Huw Jenkins warned this morning that it would be best for all concerned if they retreated slightly into the background with pretty much everything that seems to happen in the town on a Saturday night fed back into the club through one way or another.
The ban will come into immediate effect and has been announced as a ban on the Kingsway – where Izzy was arrested – and Wind Street – the main socialising thoroughfares of Swansea.
The move comes after Izzy was the latest in a line of players to fall foul of the management whilst being out – both Kevin McLeod and Andy Robinson were previous players who were disciplined because of ‘incidents’
It is also understood that Izzy has been fined by the club for his part in last Saturday’s events (the off pitch ones) and that has now bought that matter to a close although he still has to appear back in front of the police next month.
“I’m disappointed that Izzy got himself in this situation and he will be fined by the club,” Swansea manager Kenny Jackett confirmed.
“We’ll have to wait and see exactly what the police do say… you don’t want this type of thing as a manager.”
Speaking in this morning’s Western Mail Jenkins had said “In that sense, I think the players have got to protect themselves a little bit more and not put themselves in situations where trouble could arise.
“To that end, we’ve advised the players not to be going out in the city centre on Saturday nights. Coming out of nightclubs at 1, 2 or 3am is not a great place for them to be.”
And it now does seem that the club have acted on those words and whilst it is not a ban on drinking (nor should it be) it will ensure that in future this is done out of the glare of the rest of the revellers.
