Bramble bailed over rape claim

23 September 2010 09:54
Sunderland defender Titus Bramble is in line to return to action on the pitch after being bailed by police investigating an allegation of rape.[LNB] The 29-year-old hit the headlines on Wednesday after being arrested in connection with an incident at a Newcastle hotel.[LNB]Chairman Niall Quinn last night insisted Bramble, a summer signing from Wigan, is innocent and manager Steve Bruce today added his backing.[LNB]The former Ipswich and Newcastle player missed Tuesday night's 2-1 Carling Cup defeat by West Ham with a slight knock, but trained this morning after being questioned by police and is in line to start Saturday's Premier League clash with Liverpool at Anfield.[LNB]Bruce said: "He wants to play. He wanted to be in this morning and he wants to go and put the record straight. He wishes he could, but legally we can't.[LNB]"But we want the case resolved and I just want to reiterate what Niall said, that we are all behind him, we are all 100% convinced that he has got nothing to do with this allegation and we will get on with it and hope the conclusion comes quickly.[LNB]"He wants to just go and play and forget about it. It's unfortunate, what has happened, but he plays, it's as simple as that."[LNB]While the Black Cats are confident Bramble has committed no criminal offence, his presence in Newcastle on Tuesday night was a breach of club rules and he could yet find himself in hot water closer to home.[LNB]Bruce said: "All I will say is the disappointment I have is that he shouldn't be out on a Tuesday night in a nightclub, and he knows that. But that's his only offence.[LNB]"The rest of it, we hope that the matter - and I speak for everybody now - can just be dealt with as quickly as possible and will sort itself out quickly, because it needs to."

Source: Team_Talk