Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Villa didn’t tell cops about abuse coach
ASTON Villa sacked a football scout accused of sexually abusing boys but failed to tell police, it has emerged.
The club axed Ted Langford in 1988 and he was jailed in 2007 after he admitted abusing four lads between 1976 and 1989.
Former Leicester City and West Brom player Tony Brien was 12 when the pervert targeted him – asking for a sperm sample to prove he had the “footballer’s gene”.
But he claimed senior figures at Villa did not want him to pursue the matter when he reported Langford six years later.
Tony, who waived his right to anonymity, said he was abused at Midlands youth team Dunlop Terriers, which Langford ran. He told the BBC’S Victoria Derbyshire show Langford wanted a sperm sample for Leicester City doctors to check. He said: “Being so young, you believed anything people said. I still feel ashamed and dirty.”
Langford, who died in 2012, worked as a scout for Leicester City and Villa in the 70s and 80s. Tony claimed he contacted Villa’s then assistant manager Dave Richardson in 1988, when he was 18 or 19. But Mr Richardson denies this, saying: “I cannot recall having a conversation with him about allegations of abuse.” He added he spoke to manager Graham Taylor and chairman Doug Ellis, and there
was a probe. Langford was dismissed but Mr Richardson felt he did not have the evidence to go to the police.
Mr Ellis, 93, told the BBC he remembered being spoken to about allegations but could not recall any discussion about whether the police should be informed.
Aston Villa said it “considers the safeguarding of players and staff of paramount importance”. Leicester City said it has “no indication of current or historic allegations”.
The number of potential victims in the abuse scandal doubled to 526 this month.
All five Premier League clubs in London are implicated and the Met is probing 255 claims against people at 77 clubs or teams.
Stars who have come forward include former Chelsea player Greg Johnson – who told the Mirror the club paid him £50,000 to keep quiet about abuse claims.