Ryan Giggs has arrived at Minshull Street Crown Court ahead of the first day of his trial.
The former Manchester United player is accused of causing actual bodily harm as well as using coercive behaviour towards former partner Kate Greville, 37, between April 2017 and November 2020. He has also faced allegations of assaulting his ex’s sister - all of which he denies.
The trial had been adjourned for almost seven months owing to a backlog of cases at the court. It is expected to last two weeks. In late June Giggs confirmed that he would be stepping down as Wales manager after the national team qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1958 under caretaker Rob Page.
In a statement announcing the decision, Giggs said: "After much consideration, I am standing down from my position as manager of the Wales men’s national team with immediate effect.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to manage my country, but it is only right that the Wales FA, the coaching staff and the players prepare for the tournament with certainty, clarification and without speculation around the position of their head coach.
“As has been well publicised, I have pleaded not guilty to the criminal accusations being heard at Manchester Crown Court. Whilst I am confident in our judicial process, I had hoped that the case would have been heard earlier to enable me to resume my managerial responsibilities.
“Through nobody’s fault the case has been delayed. I do not want the country’s preparations for the World Cup to be affected, destabilised or jeopardised in any way by the continued interest around this case.”
At the time the FAW placed on record their thanks to Giggs for his time in charge but in an exclusive interview with Mirror Football last month, the association's chief executive Noel Mooney said that the team had evolved under Page and that led to Giggs seeing "the bigger picture."
