The inquest into the death of former football manager Matt Beard has been indefinitely delayed after his family raised concerns over alleged bullying by his former club Burnley.
The 47-year-old died at the Countess of Chester Hospital in September 2025, with a provisional verdict of suicide recorded shortly afterwards.
A hearing to conclude the investigation was scheduled at Denbighshire Coroner’s Court on Thursday, but proceedings were halted after relatives objected to the scope of the inquiry.
The family of the former Women’s Super League boss believe the circumstances surrounding his August departure from Burnley Women severely impacted his mental wellbeing.
Family demands club answers
Relatives have formally requested that a witness from the Lancashire side provides live evidence at the final inquest.
Current evidence includes statements from the manager’s agent and general practitioner, alongside material provided by both Burnley and Leicester City Women.
His widow, Debbie, told the court that the former Liverpool boss left his post voluntarily but was prevented from pursuing alternative employment.
“Matt left Burnley of his own accord because he wasn’t happy there, but they wouldn’t allow him to move on,” she told the court.
“I feel like they bullied him.”
Crucial video evidence
The family also urged the coroner to publicly play a video recorded by the experienced coach shortly before his death.
“It’s quite clear in the video Matt left, naming Alan Pace as the instigator who put a stop to him talking to Leicester City,” Debbie added.
The manager’s stepson, Scott Beard, further expressed concerns to the court regarding social media posts made by the Clarets that he deemed damaging to his stepfather’s reputation.
Coroner John Gittins confirmed he will now formally invite Burnley Football Club to take an active role in the proceedings.
Widening the investigation
Gittins acknowledged the family’s strong belief that the sudden departure from the club acted as a catalyst for a tragic decline in mental health.
“Having listened to members of the family today, bearing in mind the matters you’ve drawn my attention to, I will invite Burnley FC to become an interested person for the inquest,” Gittins stated.
The official noted that the requested video footage represents the strongest available evidence regarding intentions of self-harm, confirming it will be entered into the public domain.
Further evidence will also be sought from the League Managers Association, an organisation the late manager reportedly consulted regarding his workplace treatment.
Stand-in captain Charlie Dean says England have worked tirelessly to address criticisms of their fitness and fielding ahead of a monumental home T20 World Cup.
Dean will lead the national side in their upcoming one-day international series against New Zealand in Durham.
The off-spinner steps into the leadership role following a minor calf tear suffered by regular skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt.
Expectations are exceptionally high as the hosts prepare to try and lift a tournament trophy they have not won in 17 years.
Overcoming recent struggles
The squad is currently under intense scrutiny following a highly disappointing group-stage exit at the 2024 edition of the competition.
A bruising 16-0 Ashes defeat last year only intensified the spotlight on the team’s physical conditioning.
Critics have frequently questioned the side’s overall fitness, fielding reliability, and ability to handle high-pressure scenarios.
The stand-in skipper insists those valid concerns have been heard and tackled head-on during their recent preparation camps.
“I think what’s important with fitness is it’s not just about how long can you run for.”
Dean explained.
“It is also important to be fast and athletic and that is just a huge part of fielding. I feel like we have really put a lot of time into that.”
Taking training into matchday
Dropped catches and sloppy fielding have plagued the English side during crucial international moments over the past two years.
The newly appointed leader believes the physical work they have invested will directly translate into sharper matchday performances.
She acknowledged that the harsh headlines generated during the recent Ashes series forced the group to reassess their physical approach.
“I think maybe during the Ashes, when it is in the headlines and you realise that maybe it is sticking out a bit, that we need to push a bit more on that, not just our skills.”
Dean added.
The core challenge now lies in finding the correct mental application to execute those refined skills on the biggest stage of all.
England’s crucial three-match warm-up series against the White Ferns gets under way this Sunday.
The Anaheim Ducks produced a rare defensive masterclass to secure a 3-1 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights and level their Western Conference semi-final series at 1-1 on Wednesday night.
Head coach Joel Quenneville saw his side overcome their regular-season frailties to deliver an outstanding performance at five-on-five and on the penalty kill.
The Californian franchise ranked an underwhelming 29th in goals-against average during the regular NHL season.
However, they managed to completely frustrate the home side in Las Vegas, holding a shutout until the final six seconds of the contest.
Dostal stands tall under pressure
Goaltender Lukas Dostal anchored the resilient display by stopping 22 of the 23 shots he faced.
The Czech netminder even likened himself to a soccer goalkeeper during several frantic scrambles in front of the crease.
“We know we have an amazing goalkeeper in the back, so it helps a lot too,” said Ducks centre Leo Carlsson.
Quenneville admitted his team rode their luck during a heavy third-period onslaught from the hosts.
“Obviously we’re lucky two or three times there at the end where they had open looks at the net,” the veteran coach noted.
“We were diving all over the place and were lucky that it didn’t go in.”
Rookie Sennecke sparks crucial victory
After dominating even-strength possession, the visitors finally broke the deadlock in the second period through Beckett Sennecke.
The Golden Knights misread their defensive assignments, leaving the newly named NHL rookie of the year finalist completely unmarked to beat goaltender Carter Hart.
Carlsson doubled the advantage in the final period following a magnificent backhand pass from winger Troy Terry.
Jansen Harkins secured the win with an empty-net strike before Mark Stone grabbed a late consolation goal for Vegas on the power play.
“It’s not our tradition of playing that type of game – a low-scoring affair when we score first and we’re leading throughout the whole game. This is the only way you’re going to be successful in playoffs.”
Joel Quenneville, Anaheim Ducks Head Coach
Barcelona can secure the La Liga title this Sunday at Camp Nou, needing only to avoid defeat against bitter rivals Real Madrid to retain their domestic crown.
Hansi Flick’s side currently hold a commanding 11-point advantage at the top of the table with just four fixtures remaining.
A draw or victory in the 262nd edition of El Clasico will mathematically guarantee back-to-back league triumphs for the Catalan giants.
Historic milestone awaits the hosts
Never before has this world-famous fixture directly resulted in the home side being crowned Spanish champions on the day.
The only comparable scenario occurred over nine decades ago in 1932, when a 2-2 draw ultimately saw the capital club win the league.
Flick is now exceptionally close to becoming the fourth manager this century to secure consecutive domestic titles during his first two seasons in charge.
In stark contrast, pressure continues to mount on his opposite number, Alvaro Arbeloa, whose long-term future in the opposing dugout appears increasingly uncertain.
Minuscule margins for the visitors
Los Blancos must secure an away victory to keep their incredibly faint championship aspirations alive.
Statisticians currently estimate the visitors’ probability of snatching the trophy at a mere fraction of a single percent.
Even if the visiting side secure maximum points in their remaining four matches, they would finish the campaign with a total of 89 points.
With the current league leaders already sitting on 88 points, an unprecedented historic collapse would be required for the trophy to head to the Spanish capital.
American challenger Sean Strickland has dismissed leaked sparring footage shared by UFC middleweight champion Khamzat Chimaev ahead of their title bout at UFC 328 in New Jersey this weekend.
The Russian titleholder posted a clip online claiming he was “bullying” his former training partner during a previous gym session.
Tensions have escalated significantly during the frosty build-up to Saturday’s highly anticipated contest.
Extra security personnel have reportedly been deployed to ensure the bitter rivals do not clash before stepping into the octagon.
Strickland disputes sparring claims
The 35-year-old challenger previously accused the current champion of deliberately picking on weaker fighters during training camps.
Chimaev directly referenced those accusations by publishing the old footage alongside a caption declaring he was bullying weak people.
However, the former titleholder has now addressed the relatively action-free video during a fiery media appearance.
“That’s what I’m talking about, the guy’s just a little f***ing rat.”
Rivalry intensifies over gym encounters
The Californian insisted he constantly sought out the toughest opponents in the gym, but claimed his opponent actively avoided high-level sparring.
“One, I didn’t know we were filming, and two, those are our warm-up rounds.”
“You’re just a weak man. What is the point? We’re light sparring.”
“When I go to a gym, I want to spar the best guy, but he would always just go beat up the lower-level guys.”
Quest for a second middleweight reign
The outspoken veteran is attempting to secure his second reign atop the 185lb division.
He previously claimed middleweight gold by producing an all-time great upset against Israel Adesanya in 2023.
Following two subsequent decision losses to Dricus du Plessis, the American secured this latest title opportunity by stopping Anthony Hernandez in February.
Meanwhile, the 32-year-old reigning champion claimed the belt by dominating Du Plessis last August.
Despite some fans suggesting Nassourdine Imavov was more deserving of a title shot, the challenger confidently defended his position as the number one contender.
“I think the fight just kind of made sense, it’s kind of nice just to get a fresh look, new blood.”
Donovan Mitchell and James Harden face mounting pressure to deliver a deep postseason run for the Cleveland Cavaliers following a gruelling seven-game series victory over the Toronto Raptors.
The Ohio-based franchise made a significant gamble in February by trading 26-year-old All-Star Darius Garland for the veteran Harden.
That bold move paired the 29-year-old Mitchell with a kindred spirit who possesses extensive postseason experience but shares a history of playoff frustration.
Between them, the two guards boast 26 combined playoff appearances without ever securing an NBA championship.
Veteran experience and natural chemistry
Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson believes the mid-season acquisition was perfectly timed for their current playoff push.
“This league is a lot about when you get a player in their career,” Atkinson said. “I think we got James at the right time.”
The former Houston Rockets star has evolved from a prolific scorer into a traditional point guard, embracing his role as a creator for Cleveland.
Mitchell has welcomed the support of the 11-time All-Star as he attempts to lead a team that has not advanced past the second round since 2018.
“I appreciate when you have a guy like that,” Mitchell said. “He’s been here. He’s been where I’m at and trying to go to.”
Overcoming immediate postseason hurdles
The new partnership is being severely tested under the intense spotlight of the 2026 postseason.
Cleveland required seven exhausting games to eliminate the fifth-seeded Raptors, exposing vulnerabilities and amplifying the scrutiny on their star backcourt.
The dynamic Mitchell started the playoffs with consecutive 30-point performances but has since been limited to an average of 20.5 points over his last six outings.
Harden acknowledges that building a seamless on-court relationship during the most critical point of the season remains a demanding challenge.
“I know we are behind,” Harden explained. “What speeds that process up is communication and talking, helping each other out.”
Manchester City forward Vivianne Miedema has revealed she missed the conclusion of her team’s Women’s Super League title-winning campaign because her mother is in intensive care following cancer treatment.
The 29-year-old was absent for the final two matches of the season due to the severe family emergency.
Her team-mates held up a shirt displaying her name and squad number as they celebrated being crowned champions on Wednesday evening.
Intensive care battle
The Dutch international explained the situation on social media, detailing the severe medical challenges her mother is currently facing.
“The last 2.5 weeks have been really difficult for us as a family,” she said.
“My mum had serious complications after her chemo treatment for cancer and has been in the ICU since.”
“She’s been fighting for her life, and by some miracle, she is still here.”
The WSL’s all-time leading goalscorer thanked supporters for their messages of love and support.
She also added that she could not wait to share the news of the league victory with her mother.
City secure historic triumph
The prolific striker has been instrumental to her club’s success this season, contributing 10 goals in 19 appearances.
Her attacking efforts helped the Manchester side claim their first domestic league triumph since 2016.
The coronation was officially confirmed after Arsenal dropped vital points against Brighton.
A 1-1 draw on Wednesday meant the third-placed Gunners could no longer mathematically catch the league leaders.
Arsenal’s domestic disappointment follows their recent Women’s Champions League semi-final exit at the hands of Lyon.
Former interim lightweight champion Dustin Poirier has revealed he is willing to come out of retirement for a UFC fight against long-time rival Nate Diaz.
The 37-year-old American stepped away from mixed martial arts last year following a decorated career that recently included challenging for the ‘BMF’ title.
However, the Louisiana native has recently intensified his training regime and admits a return to the octagon remains a distinct possibility.
Any potential comeback hinges entirely on securing a bout with the Stockton brawler to settle a rivalry dating back several years.
A rivalry reignited
The pair were originally scheduled to meet at UFC 230 in New York back in 2018.
That highly anticipated Madison Square Garden clash collapsed, with the ‘Diamond’ ultimately withdrawing to undergo necessary hip surgery.
Speaking on the Deep Waters podcast, the veteran fighter explained his motivation to finally make the matchup happen.
“I still want to whip Nate’s a**,” Poirier said.
“I’ll come back to fight him because our fight got away, and he lied, and the fans ran on his side.”
Clearing up the past
The former champion used the opportunity to clarify the circumstances surrounding their cancelled 2018 bout.
He claims the promotion offered him alternative opponents, including Kevin Lee, after negotiations with Diaz unexpectedly stalled.
“I said, ‘Listen, if it’s not Nate, I’m not fighting, I’m going to go have my hip taken care of,’” he explained.
“But then Nate used that, and I was the fall guy, like the fight’s off because I pulled out, but I never pulled out, I just never wanted to fight anybody else but Nate.”
Diaz’s post-UFC ventures
While Poirier contemplates his next move, his 41-year-old rival remains active across various combat sports.
The Californian departed the UFC in 2022 after securing a submission victory over Tony Ferguson at UFC 279.
He subsequently transitioned to professional boxing, suffering a debut defeat to Jake Paul before rebounding with a decision win against former octagon foe Jorge Masvidal.
A return to mixed martial arts has been mooted for Diaz, potentially paving the way for this long-awaited grudge match to materialise.