SAINTS: Welcome home, Ben!
Chairman Keith Barwell has called on Saints fans to give 'prodigal son' Ben Cohen a good welcome at Franklin's Gardens this afternoon.
Cohen makes his first return to the club since walking out on Saints when he was overlooked for the captaincy two years ago.
Instead of a season in National League One after Saints' relegation, Cohen spent 18 months in Brive before returning to the Guinness Premiership this season to play for Sale.
Despite suffering criticism from fans at the time of his walk-out, Barwell is confident Saints fans will forgive and forget when Sale visit the Gardens tomorrow.
Barwell said: "I see Ben as the prodigal son coming back. I have asked fans in my programme notes to give Ben a warm welcome.
"I want the fans to remember what a great player Ben had been for the club. He served Saints wonderfully well for 12 years, he came through the ranks at the club after starting off at Old Scouts and he will always be a Saintsman.
"By his own admission I think Ben would admit he made a bit of a boo-boo leaving.
"I am sure the fans will give Ben a good welcome as they would with any player who played for such a long time for the club.
"There are always regrets, but it was Ben's decision to leave. He wanted to play in France."
Saints fans look set to back up Barwell's calls, with chairman of the Saints Supporters Club Adam Reynolds and Comeonyousaints.com editor David Lowrence both saying supporters will applaud and not boo Cohen.
"It has been a long time since he left," said Reynolds. "There is probably only three or four players in the team from when he was here." Lowrence said: "He is a Kingsthorpe boy, he still lives in the county, he will get a good welcome."
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Friday 10 February 2012
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