THE Amalgamated Boys Club are standing behind a remorseful Matt Jennings.
The island’s leading boxer pleaded guilty in court last week to possessing class A and class B drugs and was fined £1,000.
When the Guernsey Press broke the story on Monday, the club’s head coach, Graham Guilbert, had originally said that it would signal the end of the 32-year-old cruiserweight’s career.
But in a dramatic U-turn, Guilbert later told other media that his prize fighter should be given a second chance.
He also claimed that the Press had misquoted him, but he declined to repeat that yesterday when contacted.
Instead he referred to a statement that the club’s president, Dave Hadlington, had issued yesterday morning following their committee meeting the previous night.
The statement read:
‘While not condoning the use of recreational drugs in any shape or form the committee of the Amalgamated Boys Club stand firmly behind Matthew Jennings. He has made one mistake in an otherwise exemplary career in amateur boxing in an amateur sport.
‘He is deeply repentant and embarrassed by his actions on a drunken night out. He fully accepts that he must be disciplined, which he will be by the committee of the Amateur [sic] Boys Club.
‘His punishment will be dealt with in the very near future after consultation with the governing body of the Amateur Boxing Association.’
The former novice heavyweight champion of Great Britain also issued a statement yesterday.
‘Firstly I would like to apologise to my family, friends and the local boxing community for my recent actions which have had boxing in the news for all the wrong reasons,’ he said.
‘I am aware that so many young people see local sports personalities as role models, and my behaviour will come as a real disappointment to those who have shown such support for me.
‘I have always been proud to represent my island and have given my sport 100 per cent commitment. I could not have done this without the support of so many people who turn up to watch me box.
‘I have been punished by the courts, I accept I have done wrong and will work hard during the months ahead to rebuild my reputation and I hope the community will give me that opportunity.
‘I want to stress that drug taking is wrong and has no place in sport. I would also like to stress that I have never taken any performance enhancing substances of any nature – I have always boxed “clean”.
‘Lastly, I would like to thank my coach, Graham Guilbert, who was the first person to recognise my potential. It upsets me greatly to think that I have let him down when he has shown such faith in me.
‘Again I am very sorry for the upset and distress that I have caused people.
‘I hope that I am given the opportunity to show that I can come away from this a stronger person.’
Article posted on 5th November, 2009 - 2.30pm
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