PREM TO BATTLE PAEDOS

PAUL STEWART is optimistic that Premier League bosses will back his plea for funds to fight football’s paedophiles.

Stewart, 53, the former England star who went public about the harrowing sexual torment he suffered at the hands of his junior football coach, Frank Roper, in a bid to bring the issue to the public’s attention, has helped set up the Safeguarding and Victim Engagement Association (SAVE), a charity to implement safeguarding measures at all junior sports clubs and organisations.

And after calling on the Premier League to dedicate some of its new £4.46billion TV deal to the charity in an exclusive interview with Sunday Mirror Sport in February, he has now been told by football chiefs they are taking his proposal seriously.

Stewart hopes to meet with Premier League bosses to outline how they can help.

Manchester-born Stewart, (left) who played for Blackpool, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Sunderland, said: “I wrote to the Premier League after speaking to the Sunday Mirror, and the initial response was positive, in that I was told they would be in touch.

“Hopefully they will be true to their word and a meeting can be arranged so that SAVE can outline exactly what needs to be done and how, with the backing of the Premier League, we can win the fight against the paedophiles, predators and bullies.

“We are already engaging with the DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service), the NSPCC’s CPSU (Child Protection in Sport Unit) and Sport England.

“The problem we have is finance. It costs between £200 and £300 to train a safeguarding officer and the process has to be ongoing after that.”