This is very well in a theoretical world but at the sharp end Wigan is going to lose one of its better players for at least 2 years. This is what we have to considor.

Hardly clueless. Just espousing that Wigan should stand by its players.

Once again that is so incredibly narrow minded it is untrue, I would rather wigan lost every single game than for the example that they are setting to the young fans of the sport to be it's absolutely fine to do illegal drugs.

Of course every Wigan fan wants to win every game, but you have to draw a line where other things become more important than a game. Hock should accept whatever punishment is given to him, and rightly it should be a lengthy ban from the game. The club should then throughout this period ensure that he has been given a massive kick up the ar se and that he earns his right to play in the cherry and white again by doing work in the community to set a better example than the one that has just been splashed over all the papers.

After he has been given the correct treatment for his problem.

You are talking absolute rubbish.

I have no qualms with this. But there is standing by someone and there is making the whole situation a lot worse. The best thing Wigan can do is accept the ban and offer him support by way of counselling. But then, you cant blame Wigan if they just wash their hands of him.

I dont for one minute believe that Wigan were not aware of his antics away from the field, so maybe they have tried to help him already?

After he has been given the correct treatment for his problem.

He's been to rehab before 'allegedly'

I still can't see this rumour being true. I really am beginning to doubt it has happened.

absolutely, by all means. But i imagine it would come to light that he does tend to take it more recreational, because surely if it was a much longer lasting problem it would have been picked up in earlier tests?

HOPEFULLY Hock does only use it recreationally, meaning that the fact his career is currently in ruins would act a massive kick up the ar se and the inspiration to turn his life around and stop doing stupid stuff like this.

if he has a more serious problem, then the club has much more blame on themselves, because you cannot tell me that it would not be noticeable that a professional athlete who is constantly under scrutiny for his physical side was a coke addict.

It didn't work then, did it.

However, maybe we should just kick him out on the streets like jonh suggests?

I'd suggest we would be doing the youngsters a service. They would understand that if they make themselves of extreme value they can behave as they wish.