Margaret Byrne Resigns as Sunderland CEO: Latest Comments, Reaction

Margaret Byrne has resigned as chief executive of Sunderland AFC, the club announced on Tuesday, after it was deemed Adam Johnson's time at the club while facing charges of sexual activity with a minor had been mishandled.  

Sunderland confirmed the news via the club's official website and released a statement, where it was suggested certain decisions made by Byrne in relation to Johnson's playing activity had been taken "in error":

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Margaret, in her role as CEO, was responsible for the running of the club. She was also accountable for the actions taken by the club in relation to Mr. Johnson.  Sunderland AFC acknowledges that Margaret's intentions have always been to act in the best interests of the club, however it has become clear through our own internal investigations that in this instance decisions have been taken by Margaret in error.

Whilst swift and decisive action was taken to terminate Mr. Johnson’s employment upon his guilty plea, decisions taken prior to this, including the decision not to suspend him for a second time pending the outcome of the trial, were wrong.  In light of what has been acknowledged by Margaret as a serious error of judgment on her part, we have undertaken a full review of the club’s decision-making processes to ensure that there can be no such mistakes in the future.

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BBC Sport reaffirmed the news and reported Johnson faces a jail sentence after recently being found guilty of engaging in sexual activity with a minor.

The club and the Premier League fell under scrutiny for allowing Johnson to play even after his arrest in relation to his activity with the 15-year-old girl.

Byrne joined the club in 2007 before being appointed CEO in 2011. Johnson was suspended on March 2, 2015, after details of his crime first emerged, but the winger was reinstated just 16 days later.

In a statement released by Sky Sports, Byrne explained her actions in the ordeal, detailing that she did not know Johnson intended to change his plea to guilty, noting she was "astounded" when he did so. Byrne went on to acknowledge her "serious mistake," however:

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Mr. Johnson's victim has endured a terrible ordeal and for that I am truly sorry. At no time was the failure to suspend him again intended to cause any harm or distress to her or her family.

I recognise that, as CEO, my involvement with Mr. Johnson and the decision to allow him to continue to represent the club was a serious mistake. I sincerely regret that this error has impacted on the victim, the club, its supporters and all those affected in such a devastating manner.

[...]

I thank everyone at Sunderland AFC for their support over the last nine years. I will make no further comment.

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Johnson was fired by Sunderland after changing his plea to one of the counts of sexual activity with a minor to guilty.

The Daily Mail's Craig Hope added that had Byrne failed to step down from her role as chief executive, the club would have taken the necessary steps to relieve her of the role:

The Daily Mirror's Steve Robson reported Byrne as being well informed of the incident involving Johnson, and he noted, citing Johnson's legal team, the Sunderland board member received police interview transcripts, as well as "details of the 834 Whatsapp [messages] Johnson exchanged with the girl."

Sunderland have also been swift to cut ties with Byrne, and the Guardian's Josh Halliday provided evidence of their quick manoeuvre to remove the former executive's name from the club's website:

The Black Cats' off-pitch troubles have also come with the team struggling on the field, and the club currently finds itself scrapping to stay in the Premier League, sitting just one point off the relegation zone.