Things go from bad to worse for Peter Beardsley – What a complete and utter mess..

Almost a year on from his suspension following ‘racism and bullying’ allegations at Newcastle, Peter Beardsley is now coaching at non-league side Gateshead – with club sources now telling the Daily Mail that he is NOT expected to return to St James’ Park.

An exclusive from the Mail’s Craig Hope reveals that Beardsley is coaching just two days a week at Gateshead on a non-contract basis, and although his investigation at NUFC is yet to reach a conclusion, it sounds like he won’t be returning.

Here’s a snippet from the Daily Mail’s latest update on Beardsley’s situation:

Peter Beardsley is now coaching at non-League Gateshead as his Newcastle United suspension amid allegations of racism and bullying approaches its one-year anniversary.

The 57-year-old has been helping out on a non-contract basis with the Tynesiders, managed by his former Magpies team-mate Steve Watson.

Gateshead’s squad includes midfielder Jack Hunter, one of the players Beardsley managed with Newcastle’s Under 23 side before he was put on leave last January.

Newcastle have often loaned young players to Gateshead but Beardsley’s presence there could now prevent such an arrangement.

He is spending about two days a week working with the first team. Watson wants to bolster his backroom team but currently does not have the budget for it.

Beardsley is still contracted to Newcastle and under investigation after allegations by several of the Magpies’ Under 23 players. Sources do not expect him to return.

Last season an appeal found that Beardsley made discriminatory remarks and his treatment of winger Yasin Ben El-Mhanni was ‘generally unfair’.

Beardsley denies the allegations and Newcastle refuse to comment.

What a mess.

We don’t yet know what did actually go on, but one thing we can say for sure is that the club have not handled this very well.

It’s been stated for a while that this investigation has still not been fully dealt with and, in the mean time, not only have we lost a few talented youngsters (Gibson to Everton), we now have a great servant of the club in Beardsley completely out in the cold.