The Town academy has been accused of not adequately supporting the mental health of a former scholar having allegedly mishandled an injury by an independent medical review commissioned by the PFA and conducted by a leading sports physician. However, Town have resolutely defended the claims.

According to a lengthy report in The Independent, the unnamed youngster, then 16, was diagnosed with lower-back complications in August 2015.

Following a programme of rehabilitation, the player attempted to return to training seven weeks later but the pain persisted with the club unable to ascertain the true nature of the problem.

By Christmas 2015 the injury had worsened to the extent where walking was at times difficult.

Town had not provided an MRI scan by this point but in January 2016, six months after the injury was first reported, on the advice of a private chiropractor, the club was asked to provide one by the player's parents, which revealed two prolapsed discs.

The PFA’s independent medical review found that Town had “fallen below the standards expected of a Championship club academy”.

However, it added that the club was not legally liable for his injury as the player had a pre-existing back condition not compatible with training full-time. The expert felt the player would struggle to play professional football but ought to make a full recovery.

There is further criticism of the way the youngster was left unattended while undergoing epidurals at the Lister Hospital in London and the subsequent failure to provide a programme of exercises after the pain returned in the 2016 close season.

The young player ultimately stopped playing in 2018 having spent the rest of his scholarship sidelined with injury or on loan in non-league locally.

The review “identified a number of apparent failings” regarding the injury, among them “poor communication … [the] delay in obtaining an MRI … [a] lack of written plan for pre-season 2016 and inappropriate loaded squat exercises for his medical condition.”

The club was urged to “lead a critical incident review into these matters and ensure appropriate systems are in place. Investigations into the safeguarding issues would possibly need to be undertaken with the agreement of the local social services department.”

The youngster, according to his parents, became “withdrawn” and “morose” during his time suffering with the injury, and the review felt his “psychological health” should also have been addressed.

The player admitted he struggled mentally in his time at the club and while there were “weekly informal approaches were made by Ipswich’s welfare officers and coaches to inquire about his well-being”, he says he never had a one-to-one with the academy’s psychologist.

The player is quoted as saying of Town’s physios: “As it was going on over the two or three years, I don’t think they really 100 per cent knew what they were doing. They were trying different stuff, and it wasn’t helping at all…They kind of ran out of ideas. They were just doing the same thing.”

Additionally, he said that no plan regarding his rehabilitation was ever given to him and that he’d be left alone for long spells with the physios busy in the mornings.

The players’ parents took the dispute to the FA - who have said it falls outside their jurisdiction - the PFA and the EFL in 2016.

Town say the three bodies have “found no substantiation to such allegations to warrant any action,” although The Independent says it understands an EFL investigation is still ongoing.

The PFA told The Independent: “The PFA treats its members’ welfare as paramount and we have supported the player throughout this situation, both in terms of pursuing his complaints and also to assist him with medical and rehabilitation assistance.

“This case has highlighted the urgent need for greater clarity as to the process players should follow in regard to safeguarding issues.”

The Independent adds that “the chief executive [sic] has not responded to the parents’ formal complaint nor offered an apology for the club’s treatment of their son.”

A spokesperson for Town said: “The academy staff, including the director of football operations [Lee O’Neill, also academy director], have done everything possible to assist the player and his family over a prolonged period and have given full co-operation to the football authorities.

“Our academy has an outstanding reputation in the game for not only developing young talent and providing a pathway into the first team but even more importantly, for ensuring the welfare and general well-being of all the scholars.

“The player concerned was provided with that same expert support from the academy both in terms of the physical treatment of the injury — including guidance from one of Europe’s leading consultants in spinal surgery — and the mental challenges surrounding dealing with a long-term injury.

“The club has acted to the highest standards in the player’s medical treatment in line with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines and in his general well-being.”

The Independent reports that the player currently coaches at the academy for two hours a week at a site away from Playford Road.

Photo: TWTD

reva added 13:30 - Jul 30 I agree with all those who have expressed the seriousness of the allegation - but I do wonder in this day and age of compensation culture if some accident helpline has suggested that money can be made out of this. After all there have been investigations by professionals and nothing untoward has shown up and the lad himself is still working for the club. Sad situation nevertheless and hope it's brought to a swift conclusion.

2

BeattiesBackPocket added 14:12 - Jul 30 Blues1 you say it's nothing to do with senior players but I would say it has because of the care of a 15 year old is this inadequate this could be the same for the older players as well. It can't be coincidence that all the sick notes like Mcgoldrick etc spent more time on the treatment table with us but seem to have no such issues at other clubs definitely not to the extreme it appears to be here anyway

0

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:38 - Jul 30 62wasbest: I think what Phil means is this: In an independent medical review commissioned by the PFA and conducted by a leading sports physician, the Town academy has been accused of not adequately supporting the mental health of a former scholar, having allegedly mishandled an injury. However, Town have resolutely refuted the claims. But hey, who among us has not misplaced a modifier at times? Much more important, of course, is that this story, even if it is almost certainly not the full story, does not reflect well on our Academy.

1

sovereignblue added 15:49 - Jul 30 I'm in the therapy industry and If i had the number of long term/recurring injuries that Town have had I would be asking some very serious questions about my methods and the methods of my staff, especially as has been previously stated the people prone to injury after injury seem to thrive else where. This is not a dig at the club but said because I have the best interests of the club at heart and it makes sense to me that Town do the same with their incredibly expensive assets.

2

FromIpswichToPhoenix added 16:10 - Jul 30 Two curious points for me are 1) "the club was not legally liable for his injury as the player had a pre-existing back condition not compatible with training full-time". Why is a kid with a pre-existing back condition trying to play pro football? What are his parents doing? 2) "There is further criticism of the way the youngster was left unattended while undergoing epidurals at the Lister Hospital in London". Once again, where are his parents? I'm not saying the club is or is not at fault, but surely the parents play a part in this as well by not looking out for their son?

5

Toronto_Tractor added 16:45 - Jul 30 There's a lot to unpack here and the club may not have done anything wrong at all. The management of spinal pathologies of all types is changing. Degenerative changes in weight-bearing joints (in this case the spine) and disc prolapses are standardly considered pre-existing conditions and are not thought to be linked to any form of exercise routine/sport. This kid was young at his time of diagnosis but it is certainly not unheard of that intervertebral discs may be visibly protruding on MRI. This is commonly (and mistakenly) assumed to be the cause of back pain and usually isn't. A recent study found that 70% of asymptomatic 30 year olds (ie have never had any back pain) had herniations in their lumbar spine. This percentage increased as age increased. Unfortunately, these changes begin early in adulthood (on average). There's been a big focus on 'VOMIT'S' in the last couple of years.. 'Victims of medical imaging technology'. This is where we see something on imaging and assume it means bad news. Spinal issues are complicated, but usually nothing to worry about and most make a full recovery if given the right guidance. Maybe he has fully recovered but his footballing development was interrupted at a critical time.

0

Suffolkboy added 16:56 - Jul 30 Seems quite clear , abundantly so ,that the Press are being wilfully involved here : always looking for a mischievious article or headline they are the masters at ‘ twistimg ‘ of selecting information or supposed facts that will suit their case ! I find it truly incredible , though perhaps I should not , that many posts here appear to be from a standpoint almost totally biased against ITFC and less than cognisant of the role the Press seek to play in our society : DON.'T forget they simply want to sell papers ( The absolute truth is seldom their brief !) For heavens sake please let's show some sensible forethought and suitable cynicism before condemning all at ITFC ; they're a great bunch of professional people who dedicate themselves to the interests of everyone with whom they come into contact ,and who they are responsible for ! In my dealings with the Club stretching back now 65 yrs in total , agree or not. I've found myself treated with respect and honesty , and always with a careful regard for the subject matter ! COYB

0

Eastanglianblue added 21:01 - Jul 30 So on reading this story, the player was not given an MRI for 6 months is worrying, for the PFA to commission an external medical review speaks volumes, for a young player to suffer physically & mentally is concerning & the EFL state the investigation is ongoing undermines claims there are no issues? I would have had more confidence if Town came clean around any learning, rather than their standard generic response which very few believe no smoke without fire. I don't see any financial gain as the story is out naming the club & suggests there is more to this than reported. So has the club undertaken a critical review as advised, these are questions I would be asking if I had players at the academy and if not why not. At the end of the day this is a young player who has left the football industry damaged physically & mentally, not great for anyone.

1

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:24 - Jul 31 On the face of it, it seems as though mistakes were made, albeit with no ulterior motives. Perhaps an MRI scan should have been done earlier (ITFC have yet to explain why this was not the case). Perhaps more sympathetic support could have been provided at the hospital visit (but wnere were the parents if that was an issue?). However, anyone who has had a long-term injury will know that a simple, unambiguous path to recovery is rarely available. Sometimes even the medical profession are not sure how successful a method of rehabilitation will be. ITFC should be sympathetic and open to a review as this is the best way to mitigate the negative effect of the newspaper article and show that they care for the young scholars (which I fully believe they do). Quite telling for me is that the young player is still working at the club! Hardly something you would expect if you felt you had been badly treated by your employer.

1

grinch added 09:01 - Jul 31 @steveitfcsweden we writte good to see a post that has been thought through and has actual evidence well said Steve
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls