The family of Matt Beard has raised concerns that his time working at and his departure from Burnley Football Club contributed to the decline in his mental health and ultimately his death.
Beard left Burnley in August 2025 two months after being appointed as manager of the women’s team. He died on September 20, 2025, aged 47, at the Countess of Chester Hospital after suffering a hypoxic brain injury as a result of hanging.
During a pre-inquest hearing at Ruthin Coroner’s Office in Denbighshire, Wales on Thursday, Beard’s wife Debbie alleged that Burnley “bullied him” and the hearing was told his family felt his departure was a “catalyst” in the decline of his mental health.
The full inquest into Beard’s death has subsequently been delayed with John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales (East and Central), concluding that “further work needs doing” and that additional evidence surrounding the circumstances that led to his death should be collected.
“Matt left Burnley not to go to another job,” Debbie told the court. “He left Burnley because he was not happy there. Basically, they didn’t allow him to move on. I feel they bullied him, to be honest.
“He was the type of person who would say, ‘yes, I’m fine’, and he wouldn’t admit it. You could see it in his manner at home.”
Statements from Burnley and Leicester City Women — who were linked with hiring Beard after his departure from Burnley — have been collected, Thursday’s hearing heard, while evidence has also been gathered from GP reports.
Enquiries will be made to football agent Curtis Dawes, who served as Beard’s agent, and the League Managers Association who, the court was told, Beard had consulted with, for further evidence.
Burnley will be invited to be an interested party in the proceedings.
The family also want a video recorded by Beard prior to his death to be heard.
A Burnley FC spokesperson said in a statement released to The Athletic: “Burnley FC is aware of an ongoing legal process and will not be making any comment at this time.”
During the course of his 17-year managerial career, Beard began at Millwall, before taking charge of Chelsea and then Liverpool. He joined US-based but now-dissolved National Women’s Soccer League team Boston Breakers before returning to England for spells with West Ham United, an interim period at Bristol City, a second stint at Liverpool and Burnley.
He won back-to-back Women’s Super League (WSL) titles with Liverpool between 2012 and 2014 during his first spell in charge. He returned in 2021 and guided the club to promotion back to the top flight via winning the Women’s Championship that season. He won the WSL manager of the season award for the second time in the 2023-24 campaign — he previously won it in 2013 — when he guided Liverpool’s to fourth in the table.
Following his death there was an outpouring of tributes and support, honouring his memory. Last month, Beard was inducted into the Women’s Super League Hall of Fame to recognise the impact and influence he had on the women’s game.
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This article originally appeared in The Athletic.
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