A review has claimed that Manchester City was 'wholly inadequate' in responding to allegations of alleged sexual abuse of children between the 1960s and 1990s.
The club's inquiry, which was led by Jane Mulcahy QC, was commissioned in 2016 and published on Wednesday.
More than 150 witnesses were interviewed with what they have called a ‘Survivor First’ approach.
The report identified three individuals with historic connections to Manchester City – Barry Bennell, John Broome and Bill Toner.
Their offences spanned the 1960s through to the early 1990s, though they were not connected to or associated with each other.
The Report sets out the grievous nature of the offences committed, and the fact that they continued - unchallenged - over a significant period of time.
The report specifically points to the ‘wholly inadequate response’ of the Club and its failure at that time to investigate the claims or involve the police.
Bennell, who helped to spot gifted young footballers for the club, is currently serving a 34-year jail term for abusing 12 boys between 1979 and 1991.
Toner, who was not officially connected to Manchester City but worked as an informal scout, was jailed in 2018 after pleading guilty to a range of indecent assault charges.
Broome, who has since died, worked at a youth feeder team for Manchester City in the 1960s and was convicted of child sex offences against boys in 1971.
The report said Manchester City were aware of allegations and could have done more to address these and made a range of recommendations.
These included encouraging a better culture of safeguarding, more training and education, stronger leadership and more communication and openness.
A statement from the club's board of directors was made on Wednesday evening after the publication of the report.
It said the club "wished to apologise publicly and unreservedly for the unimaginable suffering experienced by those who were abused as a result of the club's association with these men."
It went on to extend "its heartfelt regret and sympathy to the multiple family members and friends affected by these traumatic events, the ramifications of which are felt by so many to the present day."
While they said they were "determined to play a key role in ensuring that such harmful acts are not repeated".
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