Former Manchester United footballer Ryan Giggs is to face trial accused of headbutting and controlling his ex-girlfriend Kate Greville.

It is alleged Giggs, 47, assaulted the 36-year-old and caused her actual bodily harm at his home in Worsley, Greater Manchester, on 1 November last year.

The Wales boss is also said to have engaged in controlling and coercive behaviour towards her between December 2017 and November 2020, namely that he used violence, isolation, belittling, humiliation, harassment, degradation and abuse.

He is also charged with the common assault by beating of Ms Greville’s youngster sister, Emma Greville, in the same alleged incident on 1 November.

In a hearing at Manchester Crown Court on Friday the date was fixed for trial proceedings to begin at the same court on 24 January.

Giggs was not asked to enter his formal pleas but has denied all allegations and previously issued a statement in which he said he would “look forward to clearing my name”.

A plea and trial preparation hearing was also fixed for 23 July ahead of the trial which is estimated to last up to three weeks.

The court heard the prosecution had raised the issue of jury selection but Judge Nicholas Dean QC said he tended to agree with Giggs’s defence counsel Lisa Roberts QC that “in effect we need to trust jurors that this case is nothing to do with football or allegiance to a public team”.

He added it would be a matter for the trial judge.

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) has announced that caretaker boss Robert Page will manage the country at this summer’s European Championship finals.

Giggs won 64 caps for Wales and had a glittering playing career with Manchester United, winning 13 Premier League titles, two Champions League trophies, four FA Cups and three League Cups.

He is also a co-owner of League Two side Salford City.

Giggs remains on conditional bail and must not contact Kate or Emma Greville, or go to any address where they are.

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