A former employee of Southampton Football Club accused of sexually abusing young players in the 1980s is still working in the sport, it has been reported.
BBC Radio 4’s Today programme said it understood the former staff member left Southampton after concerns were raised about his behaviour towards members of the club’s youth team.
The programme claimed the staff member went on to work for other clubs and, despite being asked to leave one of them, was still working in the game.
Southampton has said it will work with Hampshire police as at least 18 forces around the country investigate claims from up to 350 people of historical child sexual abuse in youth football.
The development came as the England men’s and women’s captains, Wayne Rooney and Steph Houghton, joined Alan Shearer and other leading football figures in urging players to come forward with allegations.
In a video on “safeguarding” published for the Football Association and NSPCC children’s charity, published on the FA’s Twitter account, Rooney said: “It’s important that everyone knows how to raise any concerns about the child’s welfare.
“If you’re a young boy or girl and you’re upset, hurt or scared with the way someone behaves with you, please let someone you trust know now.”
🎥 @England leaders @WayneRooney, @stephhoughton2, @chalobah and @jackrutter2 explain the four steps to #safeguarding https://t.co/dP5EilQysr
— The FA (@FA) December 2, 2016
Rooney has previously praised Andy Woodward, 43, who came forward two weeks ago to say he was abused as a young player.
West Midlands police said it was “investigating four historical allegations of child sexual abuse in football” and Kent police said it had received reports of abuse within the county’s football community.
So far 10 suspects have been identified, and Greater Manchester police said it was investigating reports from 35 people, with its inquiry growing on a “daily basis”.
On Tuesday, the former coach Barry Bennell was charged with eight offences of sexual assault against a boy under the age of 14. The offences allegedly took place between 1981 and 1985.
The National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) said it had seen a 10-fold increase in the number of adult survivors of child abuse registering for their support groups – from 10 registrations a week to 100 – in the past three weeks.
The National Police Chiefs’ Council said around 350 people across the country had reported abuse allegations.
