At a hearing held in Ruthin, North Wales, on Monday, September 29, coroner John Gittins said paramedics were called to Beard’s property before he was taken to hospital in Chester.

The 47-year-old died at 21:15 BST on 20 September. The full inquest has been adjourned to a later date.

He was widely respected for his work in the women’s game, most notably guiding Liverpool to back-to-back Women’s Super League titles in 2013 and 2014. He returned to the club for a second spell in 2021 but was dismissed in February this year. His last role was at Burnley, where he resigned in June after just two months in charge.

In the days since his passing, tributes have flooded in from players, coaches, and fans. All WSL and Championship matches on 21 September observed a minute’s silence in his memory, while Liverpool’s fixture against Aston Villa was postponed.

Manchester United manager Marc Skinner called him an “icon,” and former England star Fara Williams described him as “one of a kind and had the purest of souls.”

A fundraiser launched by broadcaster Jacqui Oatley to support Beard’s family has already surpassed £50,000.

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