Former Ireland Assistant Coach Suspended From Position Amid Bullying Claims

Former Ireland assistant coach Kevin MacDonald has been suspended from his position as Aston Villa youth coach pending an investigation in bullying in the 1990s, Sky Sports News reports.

The claims have been made by former Ireland midfielder Gareth Farrelly, who was coached by MacDonald as a young player at the Birmingham club. The Irish Times reports that Farrelly said MacDonald "belittled him and scoffed at his achievements, undermining his confidence and giving negative reports of his performances to the then Villa manager Brian Little."

Farrelly added that "took me to a place at 20 that nobody should have to go to. And I wouldn’t wish it on anybody.”

Between spells at Villa, MacDonald was an assistant coach for the Republic Of Ireland, under the management of Steve Staunton between 2006 and 2007.

BREAKING: @AVFCOfficial youth coach Kevin MacDonald removed from working with players pending investigation into bullying in the 1990s #SSN

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) December 13, 2018

Aston Villa has instructed MacDonald not to comment on the allegations of bullying, pending the outcome of the investigation.