Simon Gerrard (pictured top), the chief executive of the Cheshire Football Association, was previously a senior part of the England partially sighted team management but left last April by mutual consent after being found guilty of head-butting an opponent and threatening to break his legs during a five-a-side match.

The incident occurred when an opposition player took the ball past Gerrard before the Cheshire Football Association chief executive launched a horrendous two-footed tackle on him.

When the pair got up, Gerrard head-butted the other player after a verbal exchange and was sent-off.

But after being dismissed, Gerrard is alleged to have wandered to a spectators' gallery before launching a further foul-mouthed tirade at the player, telling him he was going to "break his ******* legs".

Gerrard was charged with three offences by the FA and given a six-month

He retained his job with the Cheshire FA, despite calls for him to be sacked.

But despite leaving the FA national disability set-up, Gerrard has now returned to work with the England blind football team.

"Moving forward Simon will have a very minor role with the England squad as kit man as and when he is required," the FA's national disability development manager Jeff Davis told insidethegames.

Davis also said that Gerrard's role will be solely with the England team and not with the Great Britain team.

Gerrard comes in as part of the reshuffle that has come after Tony Larkin (pictured below) was sacked as head coach of the England and Great Britain blind football team earlier this month after 17 years in the role.


The 57-year-old has been involved in blind football since 1989 while he made over 450 appearances for teams including Wrexham, Shrewsbury Town, Carlisle and Hereford United,

Larkin's assistant, Jon Pugh, was also replaced after Britain finished a disappointing seventh out of eight teams in Paralympics at London 2012.

Graham Keeley has been named as Larkin's replacement as part of a new-look management team.

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