Ex-soccer manager jury discharged

David Jones: Denies all the charges

The jury has been discharged in the trial of former Southampton FC manager David Jones on charges of child abuse.

Judge David Clarke ruled that Mr Jones could not receive a fair trial before the present jury.

The move followed a direction to find Mr Jones, 44, not guilty on four of the 14 charges after one witness named in the allegations refused to give evidence.

The judge later told the jurors they could not return verdicts on the 10 remaining charges because they knew of the further allegations from the witness in question.

The hearing at Liverpool Crown Court was adjourned until Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Jones is alleged to have targeted vulnerable young boys during his time as a care worker at a residential school on Merseyside in the 1980s.

He has denied all the charges.

Mr Jones played for Everton and Preston North End before a successful managerial career with Stockport County and Premiership side Southampton FC.