Allegations have been lodged against a former employee who worked at the club’s training ground in the 1980s and is now deceased
Manchester United are the subject of legal action for a historic sexual abuse allegation against a former employee.
It is understood the allegation relates to Billy Watts, who worked at The Cliff – the club’s former training ground – in Salford during the 1980s as a caretaker and groundsman.
Watts, who died 16 years ago, has been accused of subjecting the male victim to ‘sexual and physical abuse when he was a child’.
It is alleged in the civil claim, filed by Lawyers at Simpson Millar last week, that the club failed to protect the claimant from abuse while he was under their supervision and care.
They did not reveal whether the complainant – who cannot be named for legal reasons – had been a youth player at United.
It has been claimed by lawyers that thus far the club have declined to ‘engage constructively’ with the legal process, despite its previous participation in the 2021 Sheldon Review, which documented several allegations of abuse involving Watts and confirmed internal disciplinary action against him in 1989.
The Athletic previously reported that after the internal disciplinary action, Watts was moved to a role away from the club’s youth team players. Watts departed United months after he was relocated.
In a statement at the time, United stated that ‘multiple interviews’ had been conducted with employees in relation to the allegations with information and available records submitted to the Sheldon Review – The Football Association’s independent review into child sexual abuse in football.
The Mirror approached Manchester United for a comment. The club declined to comment.
Although Watts wasn’t mentioned by name, the 2021 report, headed by Clive Sheldon KC, referred to accusations that ‘concerned a caretaker at the club, who is now deceased’.
Abuse Law Expert at Simpson Millar said: “Our client has shown enormous courage in coming forward after so many years. He, like many survivors, has had to relive incredibly painful memories in order to seek justice.
“While Manchester United contributed to the Sheldon Review, its approach to this legal claim has been disappointing. Survivors deserve more than sympathy—they deserve meaningful engagement and accountability.”
Simpson Millar have also stated the case ‘exposes a clear gap between the public commitments made by institutions following historic abuse inquiries and their private handling of individual claims’.
At the time of the Sheldon Review, a United statement said: “We have cooperated fully with the Sheldon review in an effort to make sure we were as comprehensive on this important matter as we could be. This involved conducting multiple interviews as part of our wide-ranging enquiries pursuant to the review.
“These included a former employee who had conducted the disciplinary process against the former caretaker in the 1980s, and other current and former employees who worked at the club in the ’70s and ’80s.“All interviewees provided their full cooperation and information relating to the former caretaker has been included in Manchester United’s submissions to the review.
“Identifying facts from historical allegations is never an easy process and their report will include any issues relating to Manchester United that are considered relevant by the review team.”