This gets stranger. The last we heard, Beardsley was deemed to have said the comments that he was accused of but there's talk now that Ashley and co are sticking by him.
Maybe it's a ploy to divert attention away from the proper story here.
Peter Beardsley found guilty of three counts of using racist & abusive language towards NUFC U23 players following FA hearing & has been suspended from all football activity for 32 weeks.
Statement on behalf of Beardsley: 'He is very surprised & disappointed by decision... It was almost impossible for Peter to clear his name... NUFC did not provide relevant training & education for Peter... Will respect sanction & looks forward to returning to work in football'.
The 3 counts of racist & abusive language Beardsley found guilty of were 1) calling an African player a "monkey" 2) "You should be used to that" as African players climbed trees at Go Ape course 3) "It's cos you're not 18" to African player, suggesting fraud in declaring age.