Gwyn Williams (football manager)
Gwyn Williams is a former Chelsea coach, assistant manager and chief scout who spent 27 years with the London club, before a seven year spell with Leeds United as technical director.
Chelsea
[edit]Gwyn Williams joined Chelsea in 1979 and spent 27 years at Stamford Bridge where he served in a number of roles, including chief scout and as assistant manager under Claudio Ranieri, before eventually leaving the club in June 2006.[1] He credits himself with discovering John Terry and helping Chelsea make a £14 million profit on Tore André Flo.[2]
Leeds United
[edit]Williams took up the post of technical director aimed mainly at scouting for Leeds United in 2006, following new chairman Ken Bates from Chelsea.[3] He briefly took charge of the first team in January 2008 as they faced Southend United following the resignation of Dennis Wise.[4] Two of his most high-profile findings at Leeds United were Robert Snodgrass in Scotland and Luciano Becchio in the Spanish second division.
Sexual harassment, homophobia and racism allegations
[edit]In July 2013, Williams was dismissed by Leeds for gross misconduct after emailing pornographic images of women to a number of colleagues, including a female receptionist.[5]
Williams has been accused of making homophobic comments to former Chelsea defender Graeme Le Saux. "He would wander up to me before training and say: 'Come on, poof, get your boots on'", Le Saux wrote in his 2007 autobiography.[6]
In 2018, Williams, along with Chelsea manager Graham Rix, was accused of racism and physical assault by multiple trainees who were of school-age at the time. Both denied the allegations. After a seven-month investigation, the police decided there was insufficient evidence to take any action.[6] However, after four former youth players sued Chelsea FC, the club agreed on 7 February 2022 to settle out of court with a total of eight former youth players paid damages up to six figure amounts.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Williams leaves Stamford Bridge". BBC Sport. 7 June 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
- ^ Holt, Sarah (25 July 2006). "Scouting mission". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
- ^ Hay, Phil (1 August 2006). "Whites appoint ex-Blue Williams". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2007.
- ^ Phillips, Michael (30 January 2008). "McAllister era cheered but jeers for the Wise reign". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- ^ United entitled to sack employee over obscene emails[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Taylor, Daniel (12 January 2018). "Graham Rix and Gwyn Williams accused of racism and bullying while at Chelsea". The Guardian.
- ^ "Chelsea pay damages after racism claims". BBC Sport. 7 February 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
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