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Aston Villa suspend Under 23s boss Kevin MacDonald from working with players

Aston Villa have moved Under 23s manager Kevin MacDonald away from working with players and launched an investigation after a former graduate made claims of bullying against the long-serving youth coach.

Gareth Farrelly has told the Guardian about accusations of an ‘incredibly aggressive’ verbal and physical approach by MacDonald in the mid-1990s that ‘took me to a place at 20 that nobody should have to go to. And I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.’

Farrelly, who won six caps for the Republic of Ireland, has spoken out after seeing MacDonald kept employment at Villa despite a Premier League probe finding him guilty of bullying a young unnamed Villa player in 2015 and 2016.