TOON STANDING BY BEARDSLEY
PETER BEARDSLEY could be back at Newcastle’s academy this season with the club set to stand by him over bullying and racism allegations.
The 57-year-old Toon legend has been suspended by the club since January, but the Magpies have yet to take a decision on his future.
Instead, the player who made his complaints official last autumn – winger Yasin Ben El-Mhanni – has since been released by the club.
There is growing frustration within the club and among parents of players in the academy that the investigation – initially expected to last weeks – has gone on for months.
Mirror Sport revealed exclusively in January that the England man was being investigated by club chiefs after Ben El-Mhanni’s official complaint.
In January it emerged that an appeal – contrary to the club’s initial findings – ruled Beardsley did make discriminatory comments and that his treatment of Ben El-Mhanni was “generally unfair”.
A hearing into racism allegations also took place in May. Beardsley has consistently denied the charges, despite written statements made by several academy players in January.