The wife of the former Women's Super League manager Matt Beard has told a pre-inquest review she felt he was "bullied" by Burnley before his death.
Mr Beard died on September 20 last year after resigning from his job as head coach of Burnley women in August, a hearing was told on Thursday.
The 47-year-old previously managed Millwall, Chelsea and West Ham's women's teams as well as seeing success with Liverpool women, where he won back-to-back WSL titles in 2013 and 2014.
The review at Ruthin County Hall heard his family had concerns in relation to Mr Beard's time working at Burnley, which he joined after leaving Liverpool in February 2025.
The family felt leaving Burnley "was the catalyst for a decline in his mental health," the hearing was told.
His wife Debbie Beard said: "Matt left Burnley not to go to another job, he left Burnley because he wasn't happy there. Basically, they didn't allow him to move on. I feel like they bullied him, to be honest."
Senior coroner John Gittins said he would invite Burnley to become an interested person in the proceedings.
He said anyone who may, by act or omission, have caused or contributed to a death was entitled to interested person status.
The coroner said he would be making enquiries for further evidence from football agent Curtis Dawes and the League Managers Association (LMA), who Mr Beard was said to have consulted because of concerns about his treatment at Burnley.
Mr Beard's stepson Scott Beard told the inquest review he also had concerns about the timing of social media posts which were "quite damaging" to the manager.
The inquest was adjourned to a later date.
Mr Beard's funeral, held at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, was attended by around 600 people including former Liverpool player Ian Rush, and former England internationals Casey Stoney, Lianne Sanderson and Fara Williams.
