PETER BEARDSLEY broke his 14-month silence to tell a room full of Newcastle fans: “I’m not a bully or a racist.” The Toon legend was axed from his coaching role at the club last week following a probe into allegations made against him by a number of his Under-23s players. Beardsley, 58, was suspended in […]
PETER BEARDSLEY broke his 14-month silence to tell a room full of Newcastle fans: “I’m not a bully or a racist.”
The Toon legend was axed from his coaching role at the club last week following a probe into allegations made against him by a number of his Under-23s players.
Beardsley, 58, was suspended in January 2018 but refused to make any public comment about the claims.
Even when his Newcastle exit was confirmed, he made no mention of the investigation in a short statement released by his solicitors.
But he took to the stage at ‘An Evening with Peter Beardsley’ talk-in on Tyneside on Friday night, which was attended by around 170 supporters.
And Beardsley opened the event by saying: “Thank you for coming, I really mean that. Most of you in this room will realise that I’m not a bully and I’m not a racist.
“Everybody in the city of Newcastle has been amazing. For 15 months, they’ve been amazing. There are certain people in this room who haven’t, but that’s just the way it is.
“I know what I am and everybody who knows me, my family, my friends, knows what I am. I’m comfortable with what I am. It is what it is, I’m just ready to move on.”
Beardsley’s words were greeted by huge applause from the audience at the Hilton in Gateshead and he looked overcome with emotion following their show of support.
Dressed in a grey suit and open-neck white shirt, he then requested fans to not ask him any questions about the allegations against him during the Q&A section of the night.
Beardsley instead regaled the room for 80 minutes with stories of his playing career at Carlisle, Vancouver Whitecaps, Newcastle, Liverpool, Everton and England.
He cited John Barnes as the best player he has ever played with and said the greatest time of his life was lining up alongside Tino Asprilla at the Toon.
Tickets for the event started at £65 and included a photo with Beardsley and a signed print, although they were later reduced to £12.
The auctioneer joked the money raised from prizes would go towards Beardsley’s “pension fund”, although a £25 signed photo of him went unsold.
