Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce has expressed his horror at the revelations of historical abuse suffered by players from the area.

An independent report into the scandal by Clive Sheldon QC this week detailed the experiences of young footballers and revealed at least 240 suspects, including George Ormond, a jailed former aide to the Magpies’ youth set-up, and 692 survivors had been identified.

Asked if Newcastle was now a safe club, Bruce said: “One hundred per cent safe now, yes, with the safeguarding measures.

“At every club now up and down the country, we’re all appalled and there’s a sadness for me because it seems to be in my era.

“Seeing players who I played against, and top, top players at that, going through an ordeal when they’re children is horrific and horrendous.

“All the protocols, especially at our club in particular and I’m sure up and down the country now – first and foremost we have to protect young children, when you think about it, the abuse that some of them have had is absolutely horrific.

“We had to make sure that the safeguarding that every club now has in place is absolutely 100 per cent watertight, like it should be, to protect the young because it’s vital for the life-blood of the game.”