Manchester City could be calling convicted paedophile Barry Bennell to give evidence in their defence during a civil case, reports suggest.
The claim comes from a preliminary High Court hearing, after a civil case was brought by eight men sexually abused by former coach Bennell.
The BBC has learned that the barrister for the claimants, James Counsell QC, said that the 'extraordinary decision' by the club comes as they deny being 'vicariously liable' for what happened to the claimants.
Court documents suggest that the defendant has "apparently taken the extraordinary decision to call Mr Bennell, presumably intending to put him forward as a witness of truth, despite the fact that he has repeatedly pleaded not guilty but been convicted of 52 criminal offences in 2018, many on these claimants."
The disclosure, according to the same documents came 'at a late stage' and before witness statement exchanges.
Barry Bennell
Former Crewe Alexandra and Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy spoke to Off The Ball about Bennell last month.
Bennell was a scout for Alexandra when Murphy was there as a youngster.
"We were interviewed in the '90s by police when it first came out while I was at Crewe," Murphy said.
"After [Bennell] left, there were some rumours about certain things but when you're a young child - I was 13 when I went to Crewe and when he left, I was about 14/15 - you hear the odd thing.
"But you are so focused on your own world, your own bubble - you are not capable of taking action or investigating. It is not your job to.
"But there were rumours, and then when it was exposed a bit later on - in the '90s - we were interviewed and things started coming out.
"The thing to say for me is really simple: for a lot of young lads - and this doesn't hide from the problems at Crewe, and the way they have dealt with it has not been good - for me and many others, the environment was very safe, enjoyable and very beneficial.
"That is the way that it should be for all kids. Any wrongdoing, cover-ups or things that can be learned or punished - should be. I'm all for that. It is a situation that is horrendous for the club and for the people involved."
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