The widow of acclaimed football manager and coach Matt Beard has claimed that he was “bullied” by his club before his death.
Beard, 47, died on 20 September 2025 after resigning from his job as head coach of Burnley FC Women the month prior.
He had previously managed the Millwall, Chelsea and West Ham women’s teams, as well as Liverpool Women, where he won back-to-back Women’s Super League titles in 2013 and 2014.
A pre-inquest review was held on Thursday.
The father-of-two, who lived in Hawarden, Deeside, North Wales, died at the Countess of Chester Hospital, the hearing, at Ruthin County Hall, was told.
It also heard that Beard’s family had concerns in relation to his time working at Burnley FC, which he joined after leaving Liverpool in February 2025.
The family felt that leaving Burnley “was the catalyst for a decline in his mental health”, the hearing was told.
His wife Debbie Beard said: “Matt left Burnley not to go to another job, he left Burnley because he wasn’t happy there. Basically, they didn’t allow him to move on. I feel like they bullied him, to be honest.”
Senior coroner John Gittins said that he would invite Burnley FC to become an interested person in the proceedings.
He said that anyone who may, by act or omission, have caused or contributed to a death was entitled to interested person status.
The coroner said he would be making enquiries for further evidence from football agent Curtis Dawes and the League Managers Association (LMA), who Mr Beard was said to have consulted because of concerns about his treatment at Burnley.
Mr Beard’s stepson Scott Beard told the inquest review he also had concerns about the timing of social media posts which were “quite damaging” to the manager.
The inquest was adjourned to a later date.
Mr Beard’s funeral, held at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, was attended by around 600 people including former Liverpool player Ian Rush, and former England internationals Casey Stoney, Lianne Sanderson and Fara Williams.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
