I think the most important thing we can learn from this latest debacle is that we need to recognise the decision made by our players in the form of the votes and comments made on here.
They almost unanimously decided to maintain breakwell's ban on being allowed to go anywhere near any tournaments ... and until that situation changes then we cannot unilaterally ignore that mandate.
breakwell had told Rich he had contacted me and Lump [which was true] and we had okayed his return [which was not true] but I wouldn't be so arrogant to think that was a decision I could make anyway .. it is not my decision to make in fact, it's your decision, pure and simple .. and that's because it is you who are at risk if he returns to all his old ways and decides to begin stealing again.
I think Lump will be explaining his displeasure to day to breakwell if indeed he is still there.
I don't think breakwell enjoy that discussion somehow ....
For what my opinion is worth, I think he has learned a harsh lesson in just how quick his life changed; one moment he was enjoying himself playing and bullying and then the next .. his world came a crashing in and he was universally blasted as a thieving, lying, bully-boy ... not exactly the sort of things you wanna see written about you on the internet.
That said, I don't really know if the lesson was harsh enough for him to amend his ways, I hope it was, i really do but some of behaviour patterns he adopted during that time when emailing me smacked of a him being a sociopath; once again, i hope I was wrong.
If push came to shove and I'd have to decide one way or the other?
My vote would be to give him one more chance if only to ensure we've played it by the book and are not an intransigent, unthinking mob. I think if he was allowed to make a somewhat guarded return, he'd have soo many pairs of eyes upon him, it would prove extremely difficult for him to return to his old ways .. but then again, I ain't got no gear for him to steal at events, you guys have and therefore you have more of a right to vote than I.
I think you guys really need to let us know if your opinion has changed in any waybecause people in the industry need to know if your resolve still stands in keeping him banned ...