Lessons to be learned, Newcastle

IN December 2016, Newcastle United wrote to the parents of their academy players reassuring them of the club’s “stringent safeguarding measures”.

Thirteen months on the Peter Beardsley bullying and racism allegations have raised awkward questions about whether the level of protection and support the club’s young players received was as stringent as claimed.

What wasn’t known then was that one of the academy’s star pupils, Lewis Gibson, had complained of being bullied by Toon legend Beardsley in 2016.

A grievance procedure meeting early in 2017 failed to resolve the dispute, and disillusioned Gibson, 17, left for Everton a few months later.

Under-23s coach Beardsley (above) had strongly denied Gibson’s allegations, and he remained in post.

There was huge disappointment among academy players and some coaching staff at the loss of Gibson.

Within three months, the County Durham teenager had won a World Cup winners’ medal with England Under-17s.

In 2003 a Premier League probe dismissed another bullying claim from two youth players against both Beardsley and academy director Kenny Wharton.

Now Beardsley is defending a third bullying allegation, as well as as a claim of racism, from reserve team player Yasin Ben El-mhanni. There has also been a separate accusation of racism against Beardsley from an unnamed player.

Whatever the outcome of Newcastle’s internal inquiry, the club need to order an urgent re-examination of their safeguarding policies and grievance procedures.

The Magpies’ tardy and unconvincing response to allegations of bullying and racism against Beardsley placed young complainants in a potentially vulnerable and invidious position from November onwards.

Beardsley was interviewed by managing director Lee Charnley, and Head of Safeguarding, Steve Swinyard, last Monday, and El-mhanni’s evidence was heard three days later.

Although Beardsley denies the allegations, the players’ representatives and parents were concerned about the time it took for the probe to get under way, given that El-mhanni’s complaint was first made in November.

They were also unhappy that Beardsley continued coaching those who had either complained or provided witness statements right up until he was granted a period of leave last Tuesday.

Whatever the outcome, it is going to be a difficult and delicate task to restore morale at the Newcastle Academy.