The wife of former Women’s Super League manager Matt Beard told a pre-inquest review that she believed he was “bullied” by Burnley before his death, the hearing was told. Mr Beard died on September 20 last year after resigning as Burnley women’s head coach in August, the hearing heard.
The review outlined concerns from the family about Mr Beard’s time at Burnley. The family told the hearing they felt his departure from the club was the catalyst for a decline in his mental health, and his wife said he left because he was unhappy and felt prevented from moving on.
Mr Beard, 47, had previously managed Millwall, Chelsea and West Ham women’s teams and achieved success with Liverpool women, where he won back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014. He managed Liverpool before moving to Burnley in February 2025 and died in September 2025, the hearing was told.
Senior coroner John Gittins said he would invite Burnley to become an interested person in the proceedings, noting that anyone who may, by act or omission, have caused or contributed to a death is entitled to that status. The coroner also said he would seek further evidence from football agent Curtis Dawes and the League Managers Association, who Mr Beard consulted over concerns about his treatment at Burnley.
Mr Beard’s stepson, Scott Beard, told the inquest review he had worries about the timing of social media posts that were “quite damaging” to the manager, the hearing heard. The inquest was adjourned to a later date.
Mr Beard’s funeral at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral was attended by around 600 people, the hearing heard, including former Liverpool player Ian Rush and former England internationals Casey Stoney, Lianne Sanderson and Fara Williams.
