YOUTH COACH DUE IN COURT

BOB HIGGINS – working as Fleet Town’s first team coach when arrested as part of the investigation into child sex abuse within football – will appear in court later this month.

The 64-year-old has been charged with 65 counts of non-recent sexual abuse against boys. Higgins will appear at

West Hampshire magistrates court, Southampton, on July 20. Southampton’s former youth team coach is to face allegations made against him relating to 23 complainants.

Evo-Stik Southern League Central Fleet were left reeling when Higgins was arrested last year while he was working at the club as a coach.

He arrived in 2012 and, prior to his four years there, had a short period coaching at Bashley.

Late Fleet chairman Steve Cantle accepted the first team coach had not been vetted by the club before arriving but his “informal and unpaid” contract had been terminated.

Charges were brought against the former Peterborough United youth team manager as part of Operation Marmion, which is probing historic sex offences within the game. “Detectives have charged a man in connection with an investigation into non-recent child abuse within the footballing community,” the Hampshire Police confirmed in a statement.

Six former Southampton players have come forward to report the coach, who helped bring through a number of star players for the Premier League club.