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A man abused by pervert football coach Barry Bennell has slammed a “callous” compensation scheme set up by Manchester City.

The former youth player with the club was 12 when he was targeted by the paedophile in the 1980s and says it made him turn away from a potentially lucrative future in football.

Now in his late 40s, he said he has suffered PTSD, lost his job and marriage and even tried to end his life. He claimed he has yet to receive any compensation.

He said: “This isn’t close to being justice for the victims. It’s been handled in the most callous way, just so they portray that it’s all over and done with.”

(Image: BBC)

City launched the scheme this year for people abused by Bennell and now-dead John Broome who both coached youth teams connected to the club.

City say it is a “quicker and more cost-effective alternative” to court action, and they want to “do the right thing”.

They also believe it gives more generous payments than could be obtained by civil action. Of around 30 victims who have contacted the scheme, all but one has signed up rather than launch a separate legal claim, bosses said.

It pays out between £5,000 and £65,000 for sexual assault, depending on the severity and time span of the offences.

For example, touching under clothes would be compensated with £12,500.

Additional damages of up to £35,000 can be paid for claims of “disadvantage in the labour market”. It compares with the government’s Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme, under which child sex abuse victims can get £1,000 to £27,000. City’s initiative was praised last week by MP Damian Collins, chairman of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee.

But the victim, who wished to remain anonymous, told the Daily Record: “Bennell must have touched me in an inappropriate way over a thousands times over a year. Does it mean I could get £12,500 for each of those incidents?

“They said I could get a flat payment of £35,000 for potential loss of earnings. I could’ve been earning that in a week playing for a big club. I appreciate they made an effort to deal with the past but there must be a better way. It’s time people like me got what they’re owed.”

Bennell, 65, also linked with Crewe Alexandra, was jailed for 30 years last year for attacks on 12 boys between 1979 and 1991.

Last week ex-football coach Bob Higgins, 66, was found guilty of indecent assault against boys, mostly trainees at Southampton FC and Peterborough Utd, between 1971 and 1996.

Mr Collins urged Southampton to follow Manchester City’s lead on payouts.

A City spokesman said: “[Our] review into historic child sex abuse and the resulting Survivor Compensation scheme is the result of more than two years of exhaustive research and engagement with a large number experts in the field.

"The scheme, which is the first of its kind in football, is designed to offer survivors an alternative – with absolutely no obligation – to civil litigation, a process which can often be lengthy, costly and combative for survivors.

“The Scheme was created voluntarily by the club and has been well received by stakeholders, not least by law firms with particular experience in this field.”