Pretty sad news from the Sunday Mirror this morning, as their interview with Craig Bellamy reveals that the Welsh forward has continued to struggle off the pitch in the wake of Gary Speed's death last November. Bellamy ended his second spell with Liverpool after just one season to head back to Wales for family reasons, and the interview today indicates that things have, unfortunately, only gotten worse, with troubles at home erasing any of the importance that football once held for him.

Bellamy's a player that always occupied a special place in our hearts--he's undoubtedly skilled and offered Liverpool an attacking threat that they desperately needed last season, but it was his demeanor and commitment that made him one of Liverpool's most well-liked players. He looked a nightmare to play against and didn't elicit much sympathy from the opposition or their supporters, but from a Liverpool perspective, there was never a doubt that he was giving his all for the club to be successful.

Hopefully Craig Bellamy and his family can find a way forward, and that the player is getting the type of support he needs and wants. We typically always wish players well as they move on, and in his case, we did so with a view to the coming season promising something of a respite after a difficult year both on and off the pitch. News that it hasn't happened quite yet is discouraging, but our hopes remain the same.