MP KIERAN Mullan has called for those who were in senior leadership positions at Crewe Alex at the time of Barry Bennell's reign of sexual abuse to "consider their positions".

The Crewe and Nantwich MP has issued a statement in the light of the findings of the Sheldon review into child sex abuse in football and amid the broadcasting of the BBC documentary "Football's Darkest Secret", which has highlighted the personal stories of the victims of former Alex coach Bennell as well as those of other football coaches found guilty and accused of child sexual abuse.

Mr Mullan has called for longer, if not life-long sentences for those convicted of sexually abusing a child and says he wants to meet members of the Offside Trust, the campaigning group set up by survivors of abuse in football, to discuss how he can help them.

But some of the MP's most forthright words are reserved for Crewe Alex, of whom he believes will find it difficult to move on if changes are not made.

The MP says people "in current senior leadership positions", should examine themselves if they were in those positions at the time of Bennell's abuse, and were found by Sheldon's inquiry to have "not done enough" to prevent the paedophile's activities.

While he does not name Crewe's chairman John Bowler, a serving board member through Bennell's employment by Crewe Alex, the MP says "individuals should consider their positions. I think the victims deserve to see accountability."

This is the MP's full statement in response to the findings of the Sheldon Report and the BBC documentary.

"I am appalled about the clearly widespread vile abuse that was taking place in the world of youth football. I know everyone is. The documentary was deeply upsetting to watch. These men have been incredibly brave.

"They have lived through a nightmare and for some it has been too much too take. It is only because of the bravery of victims now speaking out that we know the full picture of what happened. If there are still people out there who want to talk about abuse that happened to them please if you feel able to, please take that step."

"Not enough people asked questions when they should have, or looked the other way. Whilst at times some people may have been ignorant as to what was happening, when people did start speaking out publicly our whole society should have listened."

"While it has happened much, much too slowly, I think everybody agrees that we have come a long way in terms of the protection put in place for children in youth sport. But we must never ever be complacent. There will always be more we can do.

"The recent plan to put people like sports coaches onto the same footing as teachers in terms of relationships with students is a recent example. I continue to think our justice system all too often fails victims. I think any adult convicted of sexually abusing a child should expect to spend most if not all of the rest of their life in prison. We are a long way from that.

"I would be happy to meet with the Offside Trust to discuss what more we might be able to do.

"For Crewe Alex FC, this is of course a time where victims will want to see a recognition of what happened to them. At some point Crewe Alex FC will want a future when what happened historically is not something that is part of its present or future.

"However, this will remain difficult to achieve when people in current senior leadership positions were in senior leadership positions at the time when the Sheldon Report says more could and should have been done. Those individuals should consider their positions. I think the victims deserve to see accountability."

• Football's Darkest Secret aired on BBC1 last night and there will be further parts of the documentary shown tonight (Tuesday) and Wednesday.