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Peter Beardsley decision set to be announced by Newcastle United after 13 months

5 years ago
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Peter Beardsley has been on gardening leave from Newcastle United since January 2018.

The former NUFC player agreeing to stay away from the club, whilst an investigation was conducted into allegations of racism and bullying.

Now 13 months later a decision and announcement by the club is set to happen.

Craig Hope covers Newcastle United for The Mail and he has had the inside track on the story all along.

On Saturday morning he has revealed in The Mail:

‘The club and Beardsley’s lawyers have been negotiating the terms of his departure and a statement is expected once an agreement has been reached.

Several academy players have made claims against the club’s former Under 23 coach.

Last year, an independent appeal found that Beardsley had made discriminatory comments and that his treatment of one player, Yasin Ben El-Mhanni, was ‘generally unfair’.

Some of those who gave evidence against Beardsley have since left the club, but they have still been frustrated by the lack of progress.

First-team boss Rafa Benitez said in August that he would like to see the matter ‘sorted out’ but has since been barred from talking about the case.

Newcastle declined to comment. Beardsley denies the allegations.’

The sooner this is resolved the better, with hopefully lessons learnt.

The Mag – 8 January 2019:

When the clock ticks past midnight, Peter Beardsley will have been officially on gardening leave for a whole year.

It was 9 January 2018 when Newcastle United released this two line statement:

After discussions with Peter Beardsley this morning it has been agreed that he will take a period of leave, to commence immediately, whilst the club conducts its investigation into allegations made against him.

It would be inappropriate for the club to comment further until the conclusion of this investigation.’

The investigation prompted by claims from a number of young Newcastle players (see below).

Peter Beardsley must have the best kept garden in his neighbourhood.

It seems extraordinary that the matter hasn’t been brought to a conclusion, one way or another, by Newcastle United.

They claimed it would be ‘inappropriate’ to comment until the investigation was concluded but surely after a whole year, it is now inappropriate that the matter hasn’t been concluded, and failing that, some kind of an update as to what is exactly happening with the investigation, if anything.

Not to make light of the matter but Peter Beardsley was aged 56 when this official investigation was set in motion and will turn 58 in only 10 days time.

It is also very surprising that with the nature of the allegations, the likes of the FA, PFA and Premier League haven’t all been asking Newcastle United what exactly is going on in coming to a conclusion.

It particularly isn’t fair on the players and Peter Beardsley himself, they should have expected the club to have done whatever was necessary by now, to bring the investigation to an end, allowing everybody to then move on.

The Mag – 9 January 2018:

Tuesday afternoon has seen an official Newcastle United statement, following allegations against Peter Beardsley.

The brief statement says that the Newcastle United reserve team manager ‘will take a period of leave’ whilst the allegations by young players are investigated.

Recent days have seen Peter Beardsley claimed to have bullied young Newcastle players and also make racially abusive comments to African players at the club (see below).

Newcastle United official announcement:

After discussions with Peter Beardsley this morning it has been agreed that he will take a period of leave, to commence immediately, whilst the club conducts its investigation into allegations made against him.

It would be inappropriate for the club to comment further until the conclusion of this investigation.’

The Mag – 8 January 2018:

Not the best of weekends for Peter Beardsley.

On Saturday an exclusive (see below) revealed that the Newcastle United reserve team manager was facing allegations of bullying at the club.

The Mirror reporting that Yasin Ben El-Mhanni claimed he had been bullied by Beardsley for more than a year and the newspaper adding that a number of other players had made supporting statements to the allegations.

The 22 year old El-Mhanni set to have his grievance hearing on Thursday.

However, now The Mail have done a follow up, saying that African player have made allegations of racial abuse, and that Peter Beardsley will meet the Newcastle United ‘hierarchy’ today with the allegations and evidence to be put to him.

The Mail:

‘Peter Beardsley is under investigation by Newcastle United after allegations of racial abuse were made by African players in the club’s academy, Sportsmail understands.

We can also reveal that five of Beardsley’s players have given witness statements in support of Yasin Ben El-Mhanni, who has made allegations of bullying against the Under-23 boss.

Beardsley will meet with the club’s hierarchy on Monday when the allegations and evidence will be put to him. He will be represented by the PFA and also present in the hearing will be the club’s chief executive Lee Charnley and head of safeguarding Steve Swinyard. El-Mhanni, 22, has his grievance meeting on Thursday.

The Premier League are aware of the investigation but are not involved at this stage. If Newcastle find the case against Beardsley to be proven, it is expected that he will lose his job.’

The Mag – Saturday 6 January 2018:

Saturday morning sees worrying claims that Peter Beardsley has been accused of a sustained campaign of bullying against one young Newcastle player.

The exclusive also details that a number of other Newcastle players have given supporting statements to the accusation.

Yasin Ben El-Mhanni joined United a year and a half ago and it is alleged that the bullying started within months of him signing.

It is The Mirror who have broken the story and they report that the 22 year old’s allegations will be heard at a grievance meeting this Thursday.

Back in 2003, both Peter Beardsley and Kenny Wharton were cleared of charges of bullying when accused by young Newcastle players at the time, including Terry McDermott’s son Neale.

In 2006 Peter Beardsley did leave the club but Mike Ashley brought him back in 2009.

The NUFC playing legend then did everything from coaching at the Academy to handing out certificates at schools in an ambassadorial role, before eventually being made reserve team manager.

The Mirror:

Peter Beardsley is under investigation at Newcastle amid allegations of bullying.

The Toon legend, coach of the club’s Under-23 players, has been accused by 22 year-old winger Yasin Ben El-Mhanni of conducting a sustained campaign designed to humiliate him.

A number of players have given statements supporting allegations made by El-Mhanni.

El-Mhanni’s complaint will be heard at a grievance meeting on Thursday.

El-Mhanni’s representatives have refused to comment but Mirror Sport understands he remains deeply unhappy and has taken the official route in a bid to get his complaints heard.

It is the second time that Beardsley, who won 59 caps in his illustrious England career, has been accused of bullying at Newcastle. He and coach Kenny Wharton were cleared in 2003 after Under-19 players Ross Gardner and James Beaumont made claims against them.

Beardsley left the club in 2006. He later took on an ambassadorial role doing PR and media work for Mike Ashley.

He rejoined the academy as a coach in 2009.

It is understood that El-Mhanni claims his alleged unfair treatment began within months of his arrival on Tyneside.’

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