THE FUTURE of Cliftonville striker Jay Donnelly was unclear last night as the north Belfast club finally broke its silence over his conviction for distributing an indecent image of a child.
The 23-year-old was convicted last week after pleading guilty to the charge which relates to a date unknown between June and October 2016.
Despite this he played for the club in an Irish league fixture last Saturday against Linfield at Windsor Park.
Yesterday the club released a statement confirming he would be dropped from today's game against Dungannon Swifts at their home ground Solitude.
It said the decision was reached after consultation with the player, but did not make any comment on his future with the club.
Donnelly, from Ardilea Drive in the Ardoyne area of Belfast, is due to be sentenced at Belfast City Magistrate's Court in January for distributing the image.
Belfast Feminist Network and Reclaim the Night had threatened to protest until Cliftonville FC took action to remove Donnelly from their line-up.
Elaine Crory of Reclaim the Night said yesterday they had called off their protest in the wake of the club's decision over today's game, but said they would be asking Cliftonville FC to clarify whether he would play again for the club.
She said the club should demonstrate that they are "dealing with misogyny as robustly as they are dealing with sectarianism".
After days of silence from the club a statement was posted on the Cliftonville website yesterday saying: "As we are sure our supporters are aware, Cliftonville Football Club are dealing with a very sensitive and delicate matter in relation to Jay Donnelly".
The club did not say whether they were aware of his conviction when he was chosen for the line up last Saturday, or if he had been suspended for the foreseeable future.
Instead it said the decision not to play him was by mutual arrangement.
"The Club Committee must always ensure that they act correctly when dealing with legal and employment matters and, as such, we have over the past few days been speaking to and availing of advice from all parties involved as well as support organisations", the statement said.
"We have received legal advice not to comment on this matter further at this time. We assure all that this situation is extremely difficult to resolve and ask our supporters and indeed the media to please bear with us as we seek a resolution.
"Having spoken to all parties and Jay Donnelly, it has been decided Jay will not represent Cliftonville FC in the fixture with Dungannon Swifts."
