3 weeks ago
A pre-inquest proceeding regarding nan erstwhile Liverpool head Matt Beard has heard that his family felt he was “bullied” by Burnley earlier his death.
Beard, who won back-to-back Women’s Super League titles successful 2013 and 2014 pinch Liverpool, was successful complaint astatine Burnley from June to August 2025 earlier resigning conscionable complete 3 weeks earlier he died aged 47 connected 20 September 2025.
The family said his exit from Burnley “was nan catalyst for a diminution successful his intelligence health” and his wife, Debbie Beard, said: “Matt near Burnley not to spell to different job, he near Burnley because he wasn’t happy there. Basically, they didn’t let him to move on. I consciousness for illustration they bullied him, to beryllium honest.”
Beard’s stepson Scott Beard told nan inquest reappraisal he had concerns astir nan timing of societal media posts which were “quite damaging” to nan manager.
The elder coroner, John Gittins, said he would induce Burnley to go an willing personification successful nan proceedings, and that he would beryllium making inquiries for further grounds from nan League Managers Association (LMA), which Beard was said to person consulted because of concerns astir his curen astatine Burnley.
A spokesperson for Burnley, who won promotion to nan 2nd tier of English women’s shot this season, said: “Burnley FC is alert of an ongoing ineligible process and will not beryllium making immoderate remark astatine this time.”
Beard, who besides managed Chelsea and West Ham, died astatine nan Countess of Chester infirmary aft a hypoxic encephalon injury, nan proceeding astatine Ruthin County was told.
The BBC besides reported from Thursday’s proceeding that Beard’s family had asked for a video, signaling by Beard soon earlier his death, to beryllium heard by nan court, pinch his woman reportedly adding to nan hearing: “Matt near that video for a reason. He wanted that to beryllium recovered and he wanted his sound heard.”
Beard, who was posthumously inducted into nan WSL’s Hall of Fame successful April, was successful complaint astatine Liverpool successful a 2nd spell until February 2025.
