Robbie Savage, the footballer turned football pundit and never far from controversy, has come to the defence f another controversial figure, Marlon King.
Savage claims that King deserves a second chance and that Coventry City should not be criticised for signing him.
The 30 year old King, who was released from prison after serving nine months of an 18 month sentence for assaulting a woman in a nightclub, has spent the last three days training with Coventry City where boss Aidy Boothroyd has offered him a contract. King has yet to decide if he want to accept the Coventry offer or to look to other clubs for a way back into football.
Boothroyd managed King while the pair were at Watford and they get on well together. It is the Boothroyd factor that is attracting King to Coventry although the striker was impressed with the Coventry set up during a visit to The Ricoh to watch the game against Derby last Saturday. King, his family and agent were guests of Boothroyd.
The backing also came with a warning. Savage told King to clean up his act or forget a career in football.
Savage told Mirror Football, "Everybody in life deserves a second chance and though I hate what he's done, that includes Marlon King."
"He has done his time and Coventry shouldn't be criticised for signing him, but King must understand that there cannot and should not be a third chance