FA and two clubs accused of failing to stop Barry Bennell

The FA and two professional football clubs were accused last night over the failure to stop a predatory football coach who can now be exposed as one of Britain’s worst paedophiles.

They were accused of ignoring a string of warnings over the behaviour of Barry Bennell, 64, following his conviction on a total of 43 sex abuse charges, relating to attacks on 11 boys.

It can now be revealed that police are investigating up to 86 more victims targeted by the monster, who has already served jail time for abusing another 16 victims.

It means Bennell, who was said to have an ‘insatiable appetite’ for young boys, could potentially have abused more than 100 victims. He is likely to die in prison.

However, at the conclusion of his trial yesterday, several whistleblowers came forward to allege bosses at both Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra – where Bennell coached – and at the Football Association were warned about his behaviour, but hushed it up or failed to act. 

On a dramatic day:

– Campaigners and victims likened the scale of Bennell’s offending to that of Jimmy Savile at the BBC and accused clubs of putting their reputations ahead of boys’ safety;

– Manchester City revealed it had identified a second abuser operating at the club as part of a £1million 50-year review into sex abuse;

– Former Wales manager Gary Speed’s parents confirmed their son was interviewed by police investigating Bennell but insisted he was never abused.

As well as the 43 charges he was convicted of, Bennell admitted seven more relating to a 12th victim at the start of his Liverpool Crown Court trial.

Prolific sex offender Bennell, 64, was convicted of 43 sex abuse charges, relating to attacks on 11 boys. There is no suggestion the boys pictured were victims

The latest convictions represented the fourth time he has been convicted of serious sexual offending, including the rape of children, following cases in Chester and Florida in 1994, 1998 and 2015. 

Over the course of the five-week trial, the jury heard that he abused the boys, aged between eight and 15, in his car, at his home and on football tours between 1979 and 1991. Many are planning to sue the clubs.

Victim Gary Cliffe, who was molested while at Manchester City, said: ‘If those in positions of responsibility had challenged Bennell, hundreds of wrecked lives could have been saved. They buried their heads.’

Steve Walters, who was abused at Crewe, added: ‘For years hundreds of us were groomed in plain view.

‘Our abuse is punctuated by the failure of adults to protect innocent children, the failure of adults to act when abuse was reported, the failure to be vigilant and brave.’

Four players coached by Bennell – including Speed – went on to take their own lives, the jury were told. However, the court heard that there was no evidence to link their deaths to Bennell.

Bosses at Crewe, including director of football Dario Gradi (pictured here with Bennell) , 75, certainly knew children were staying the night at Bennell’s house

Speed’s mother, Carol, 72, of Queensferry, North Wales, said last night: ‘Gary was interviewed twice by police and said nothing had taken place. That’s all we know. He was not coached by Bennell for very long.’ 

Her husband, Roger, 74, added: ‘I was there every time Gary was with Bennell. I am confident that nothing happened. I am positive, Gary would have said.’

It was reported that Bennell swapped young victims with other paedophiles, including Frank Roper, a football scout who abused England star Paul Stewart. Roper died 11 years ago.

In the early 80s, cancer patient Bennell also allegedly teamed up with paedophile coach Bruce McLean, who was jailed in 1997.

At Manchester City, where Bennell was as an unofficial scout from 1982 to 1985, rumours were apparently rife about his behaviour. But he was such a good coach that nobody wanted to listen.

Bennell will likely die behind bars after being convicted of a string of sexual offences

Former FA youth coach Steve Fleet said it was ‘general knowledge’ that Bennell was ‘dodgy’. He told Sportsmail: ‘I knew who he was. Everyone on the football scene did. You’d hear it on the coaching circuit. “Don’t touch him with a bargepole – there’s something not right about him.” It was the gossip.

‘It was nauseating. The kids would all follow him. The way he spoke to them, it was like baby talk, he was too familiar with them.’

Fleet, 79, said he passed on his concerns to Ken Barnes, the club’s chief scout who died in 2010.

‘We were great friends and the only confrontation we ever had was over Barry Bennell,’ said Fleet. ‘I told him – I can’t work with him. I put my job on the line.’

‘I think Ken thought football was a man’s game where it couldn’t happen. Maybe he was naive.’

Police who later interviewed senior management at City for Florida investigators said the club was ‘evasive’ when quizzed about the reasons for Bennell’s 1985 departure.

Bennell moved to League Two outfit Crewe, where for the next seven years he groomed boys on an ‘industrial scale.’ Lord Carlile, QC, who prosecuted the 1998 case against Bennell accused Crewe of ‘institutionalised failings’ and ‘brushing abuse under the carpet’.

Andy Woodward, the former Crewe professional whose revelations of abuse lead to a flood of new victims, urged the FA to act

Both Crewe and Manchester City are conducting their own investigations into historic abuse and have co-operated with the Cheshire police inquiry. Sources say more prosecutions could follow.

In a statement last night Crewe insisted it had no idea Bennell was a child abuser until he was convicted of raping a boy of 13 on a soccer tour to America in 1994.

Manchester City extended its sympathy to victims as it revealed it had identified another abuser – John Broome – who was operating at the club in the late 1960s. The FA also urged anyone affected to contact their inquiry team.

Kim Harrison, a specialist abuse lawyer from Slater and Gordon, said: ‘Serious questions need to be asked about how this dangerous rapist was allowed to carry out years of abuse on so many young boys in plain sight, much as Savile did at the BBC.’

Bennell claimed the victims made up the claims to win compensation after reading about his past offending. He will be sentenced on Monday.