Lucas Akins, a 36-year-old forward for Mansfield Town, started in the League One match against Wigan on Tuesday night. This appearance came amid a serious legal matter involving Akins, who recently admitted to causing the death of a cyclist, Adrian Daniel, in a crash. The incident, which led to the untimely passing of the 33-year-old Daniel, occurred in March 2022 in Huddersfield.
Akins pleaded guilty to the charge of causing death by careless or inconsiderate driving. The hearing took place at Leeds Crown Court, where it was revealed that Akins' Mercedes G350 struck Daniel, who succumbed to his injuries 10 days after the crash. The court has scheduled Akins' sentencing for April 24.
Despite the gravity of the charges, Akins participated in Mansfield's game against Wigan, playing the first half of a goalless draw. The club has refrained from commenting on Akins' current availability for matches. When pressed for a statement, Mansfield Town's manager Nigel Clough stated:
"We can't comment on it I'm afraid." – Nigel Clough
The incident has been known to the club for some time, as confirmed by Clough:
"We've known about it for some time. It's not just happened but we're not in a position to comment." – Nigel Clough
The case has drawn significant attention due to Akins' active participation in league matches despite the legal proceedings. This situation raises questions about the policies regarding players facing criminal charges.
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