Ex-Southampton coach faces 65 charges of child sexual abuse

Former Southampton and Peterborough United youth coach Bob Higgins has been charged with 65 counts of child sexual abuse.

Higgins will face the charges, which come from 23 complainants, at West Hampshire magistrates court in Southampton on July 20, the Guardian's Daniel Taylor reports.

Higgins, 64, became publicly embroiled in the widespread child abuse scandal in English football last December. Saints legend Matt Le Tissier accused his old coach of abusing him during his tenure with the youth system in the 1980s.

Related - Le Tissier: I received 'naked' massage from ex-Southampton coach

Days later, another former Southampton youth teamer, Stuart James, detailed experiences working under Higgins in the late '80s for the Guardian. He dubbed Higgins "the kingmaker" due to his influence in the club's academy, but also described horrifying, sordid events that occurred when under the coach's wing.

Higgins later worked as Peterborough's youth-team manager between May 1995 and April 1996 in tandem with running his own soccer school. When the police investigation opened last year, Higgins was working with adults at eighth-tier Fleet Town in Hampshire.