Gary Speed one of four men 'coached by Barry Bennell who took their own lives,' court hears

One victim who Bennell admitted to abusing in 1998 told Liverpool Crown Court: 'Four people from teams I have played with, with Bennell, have taken their own lives'

Gary Speed, the former Wales manager, hanged himself in November of 2011, aged 42 (Getty Images)

Gary Speed was one of four players who went on to kill themselves after being coached by Barry Bennell as a junior footballer, a jury was told.

One victim who Bennell admitted to abusing in 1998 told Liverpool Crown Court: “Four people from teams I have played with, with Bennell, have taken their own lives.

“Whether they have taken their lives due to Barry solely I don’t know but all I know is how it’s had an impact on me and how it could impact on other people.”

Speed, the former Wales manager, hanged himself in November of 2011, aged 42. The victim in question made attempts to contact Speed's parents after reading that they had been unable to get closure as there was no explanation for their son's death.

Bennell's victim, who said he wanted to put his ordeal "to bed once and for all", added that he knew of former youth players who had been left "destitute" and sucididal following their experiences under the former development coach.

Another of Bennell's victims told the court that two key members of staff from Manchester City, including the deceased Ken Barnes, a former chief scout at the club, were aware of the abuse he was subject to by Bennell but did nothing to stop it.

The same complainant, a former player now in his 40s, also named Mike Grimsley, an ex-youth coach at Manchester City, as someone he suspected had known that Bennell was abusing him.

The victim was aged 11 to 15 at the time and alleges that over a four-year spell in the 1980s there were more than 100 occasions when he was forced to perform sex acts on Bennell.

Barry Bennell denies sexually abusing 11 alleged victims between 1979 and 1991 (PA)

Asked by Eleanor Laws QC, defending, if he was seeking compensation from the club, the victim said: "I have indeed spoken to a specialist child sexual abuse lawyer because I want assistance in getting an apology from Manchester City, and also for them to help me investigate Manchester City."

He added: "I want an apology off Manchester City and anyone else, if possible."

Bennell, who worked as a coach for various youth teams during his career, has pleaded guilty to seven charges involving three boys but denies sexually abusing 11 alleged victims between 1979 and 1991.

The trial is expected to last eight weeks.