Bennell, who is now 63, appeared via videolink from Woodhill Prison in a hearing at Chester Crown Court in northwest England.

He pleaded "not guilty" to all the charges put before him.

Bennell - who worked as a coach for Crewe Alexandra, now in the fourth-tier of English soccer, as well as Premier League Manchester City and Stoke City - denied five counts of indecent assault, two counts of inciting a boy to commit an act of gross indecency and one count of assault with intent to commit buggery.

All are said to have happened between 1981 and 1986, when the alleged victim was under the age of 16.

Bennell was remanded in custody until March when a further hearing is expected to take place.

"I have had an opportunity to speak to the complainant; at the moment he preserves his anonymity," Prosecutor Owen Edwards told the court.

It is an offence for either the press or public to identify the complainant and Judge Roger Dutton warned that any revelations in this regard "will be treated very seriously" by the courts.

jbh/se (AFP, AP)