Questions remain unanswered over Sunderland's knowledge of Adam Johnson case
Sunderland Football Club continued to face questions today about what they knew and when leading up to Adam Johnson's trial.
The key issue revolves around whether or not the club knew Johnson had admitted he'd kissed his 15-year-old victim and sent sexually suggestive messages.
Evidence in court suggested Johnson told Sunderland's chief executive Margaret Byrne he had kissed the girl and exchanged messages with her.
In a statement released following Johnson's conviction, the club said it did not know he intended to plead guilty to one count of sexual activity with a child and one of grooming on the first day of his trial.
So where is the pressure on the club coming from and who is saying what?
MP says questions need answering
Julie Elliott, the MP for Sunderland Central, has said the club still has questions that need to be answered.
She told the Sunderland Echo: "Clearly, having listened to the victim’s statement, our focus should be on supporting her to rebuild her life after an horrific year.
"What is also clear however is that there are questions to be answered. I am concerned about what safeguards were put in place, in light of what has come out of the trial.
"These questions should be put to the club."
Women's charity questions lifting of suspension
Johnson was suspended by Sunderland following his arrest on March 2 last year.
However, he was reinstated to the squad, helping them to avoid relegation, having told the club he planned to deny all charges against him.
Clare Phillipson, director of charity Wearside Women in Need, said if Johnson privately admitted to the club he had had contact with the girl, he should have remained suspended or been sacked.
"I think they're being disingenuous," she told ITV News. "There's some very clear questions. If they gave the answers that would put the whole situation to bed."
Police refuse to reveal if club knew of Johnson admission
Durham Constabulary have held a round of media interviews, clarifying that on the day of Johnson's arrest - March 2, 2015 - Sunderland were made aware of the allegations the victim had made.
"They knew he was under arrest for sexual activity with a child and, in broad terms, what those allegations were," Detective Inspector Aelfwynn Sampson told ITV News.
However, when asked if the club was made aware that Johnson admitted to kissing the 15-year-old girl during his first police interview, she said: "I'm not going to answer that question."
DI Sampson also refused to answer questions about whether Sunderland knew kissing a 15-year-old girl was a criminal offence, saying it was not something she was asked in court.
Sunderland deny knowing Johnson planned to admit guilt
After Johnson was convicted of sexual activity with a child - in addition to his guilty pleas to another count of the same charge and grooming - Sunderland issued a lengthy statement about the matter.
In it, the club said it did not know Johnson intended to plead guilty to any offence.
"Had the club known that Mr Johnson intended to plead guilty to any of these charges, then his employment would have been terminated immediately," it said.
However, the statement did not address the issue of any private admission by Johnson of his guilt to the club and there has been no comment on the issue so far.
Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce said he was told Johnson would deny all charges in court, telling the media it was "a massive shock" when he admitted two charges on the first day of his trial.
The club did not respond to a request for fresh comment on the matter.
What happens now? Analysis by ITV News Sports Correspondent Ian Payne
Sunderland have already stated they won't be commenting on the issue any more, but if they keep quiet, that suspicion won't go away, however much they hope it does.
Johnson remained on the club's books earning £60,000 a week. You could say it's the £3 million question?
Read more from Ian in his blog:Sunderland under pressure over Adam Johnson trial