Cheshire East Council has asked a former Crewe Alex FC manager to give up his Freedom of Borough honour, in light of the Barry Bennell scandal.

Dario Gradi, 82, who took charge of 1,359 games for Crewe, was stripped of his MBE last year.

Crewe's longest serving manager was at the helm when paedophile, Barry Bennell, worked at Crewe as a youth-team coach and a youth scout in the 1980s and early 1990s.

Cheshire East has determined former Crewe Alex manager, Dario Gradi, will become the first person within its boundaries to lose the Freedom of Borough award (Ryan Parker).

Gradi, who has always denied any knowledge of Bennell's crimes, has been widely criticised for not recognising signs of sexual abuse and protecting the boys during this period.

After a safeguarding assessment ruled he could pose a danger to children, Gradi was suspended from football by the FA in 2016.

This suspension will not be lifted, with Cheshire East determining Gradi will become the first person within its boundaries to lose the Freedom of Borough award.

A Cheshire East spokesperson said: "The council has written to Dario Gradi, requesting he renounces the honour granted by Crewe and Nantwich borough council.

"We ask his name be taken off the lost of Freemen of the Borough of Cheshire East."

Once described as 'Mr Crewe' Gradi currently has a street named after him, close to Mornflake Stadium.

There are no current plans to remove the 'Dario Gradi Drive' street name (Google).

Currently, there are no plans to remove 'Dario Gradi Drive,' but this depends on whether homeowners raise objections.

A Cheshire East spokesperson added: "While the council has street-naming powers and could make a resolution to change a street name, this is not a straightforward process.

"When changing an address, the council would, in the first instance, need to consult with any householders or businesses potentially affected by the address change to understand their wishes in relation to the proposal.

"The council should also consider the views of other potentially-affected stakeholders, perhaps including Royal Mail, utilities and delivery companies, whose operations may be affected by a change of address.

"We have not, to date, been approached by any resident, or other stakeholder with a direct interest, requesting that we take this work forward."

Barry Bennell, also known as Richard Jones, died in HMP Littlehey, aged 69 last September, five years into his 34-year prison sentence (Cheshire Police).

Bennell, 69, died in HMP Littlehey, last September, five years into his 34-year prison sentence.

The former Crewe, Manchester City and Stoke City coach's cause of death has not been disclosed.

READ MORE: Police hunt for prolific shop thief with 'links to Crewe.'

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