The family of former Liverpool manager Matt Beard has claimed he was 'bullied' by Burnley before his death, a pre-inquest hearing has heard. Beard, 47, died on 20 September 2025 after a hypoxic brain injury, just over three weeks after resigning from his role at Burnley.
Beard's wife, Debbie Beard, told the hearing at Ruthin County that his exit from Burnley 'was the catalyst for a decline in his mental health'. She added: '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.'
Beard's stepson, Scott Beard, raised concerns about the timing of social media posts that were 'quite damaging' to the manager. The senior coroner, John Gittins, said he would invite Burnley to become an interested person in the proceedings and would seek further evidence from the League Managers Association, which Beard had consulted over his treatment at the club.
A Burnley spokesperson said: 'Burnley FC is aware of an ongoing legal process and will not be making any comment at this time.' The club won promotion to the second tier of English women's football this season.
Beard, who also managed Chelsea and West Ham, won back-to-back Women's Super League titles with Liverpool in 2013 and 2014. He was posthumously inducted into the WSL's Hall of Fame in April. The family has requested that a video recorded by Beard shortly before his death be played in court, with his wife stating: 'Matt left that video for a reason. He wanted that to be found and he wanted his voice heard.'
