Bassett believes it’s time
Fragile
As Under-23 coach, Beardsley was charged with bringing through the next generation. But insiders at Toon’s youth academy say he allegedly stoked a culture of negativity and suspicion.
In an age where coaching is in part about educating young adults, Beardsley’s methods, his detractors claim, were out of date.
In the fragile world of making football stars, Beardsley, 58, reportedly took an old-school approach.
He was said to be tough on cockiness and ego, and have no time for lads getting above their station.
Turn up in a car with a personalised racist remark to one player during a trip to a Go Ape adventure course in 2017.
Further complaints from youth team players followed and after being accused of bullying by academy player Yasin Ben El-Mhanni, Newcastle suspended Beardsley in January 2018.
The club have yet to publish the findings of their number plate and you’d face Beardsley’s wrath. It was claimed. Get injured, even badly, you’d be told it was nothing and should play on, some alleged.
Be told one day you’d be kept on next season, only to discover the opposite later, it was claimed. Just small examples reported privately by players or parents.
What is clear from those who have worked close to Beardsley is that he was at times not nurturing.
That is at odds with his public face. He greets relative strangers kindly, holds doors open, lets you in a lift first, and stops to chat to fans in the supermarket.
There will also be plenty of young players on Tyneside who had no problem with him.
But Beardsley has now left and there is a lack of comment from the club. Did the 14-month investigation discover any racism? Did they believe his accusers?
The club’s simple statement, that he has left his job, is inadequate, for all concerned.
Beardsley has been deeply hurt by the accusations made against him, but resisted the temptation to hit back in public.
Fans will prefer to remember him as one of the best strikers ever to have graced Tyneside. Not the coach who slipped out of St James’ Park apparently under a cloud.
We attempted to contact Beardsley’s lawyer but he was unavailable for comment. LAURA BASSETT says England’s Women fired a World Cup warning after lifting the SheBelieves Cup for the first time.
The Lionesses cruised past Japan 3-0 in their final round-robin match on Tuesday night to win the trophy.
Lucy Staniforth, Karen Carney and Beth Mead were on the scoresheet for Phil Neville’s side, who also beat Brazil and drew with reigning world champions USA in the invitational competition.
And the 61-cap defender (right) claims they are building momentum for this summer’s World Cup in France.
Bassett, 35, said: “It means a lot to win a tournament. It’s about gaining momentum and confidence. There’s been some outstanding performances.”
England head into the tournament ranked fourth in the world. And Bassett says the competition in America has shown USA, favourites to regain their crown, are not the dominant force they were.
She added: “You’ve got six or seven of the top nations who could realistically win it.
“The USA are going through a transition and their depth is probably better than ever.
“But with that there’s more decisions to make in terms of formations and picking players.
“The more England play these top nations, they prove that the USA aren’t as big as they used to be.”