Seventeen new footballers claim they were abused

At least 17 more former footballers have come forward with allegations of sexual abuse within the game, according to the PFA.

More than 20 players had already contacted the union to report historical sex abuse.

Some 18 police forces are now examining claims from more than 350 people, across 55 clubs.

"I've had 17 individuals who don't want to go public but want to put weight behind the guys who have gone public, and I think that number is going to continue to grow," Michael Bennett, head of player welfare at the PFA, told Sky News.

There are another 27 potential victims the PFA is keen to contact, he added.

"I think we are looking at things from previous decades that are finally surfacing. I think the support that is (now) in place wasn't there," Mr Bennett .

"I think that's why these players are coming forward now. I think we have a more robust process in place right now."

Meanwhile, a Sky News Data poll suggested 57% of people do not have confidence in the FA to investigate the claims, with just 20% saying they are confident in the organisation.

The founder of Enough Abuse UK, Marilyn Hawes, told Sky News she was not surprised by the results - and expected confidence to drop further.

"I fear an organisation that has had such an endemic magnitude of failure and clear cover-up that (no one) should trust them."

FA chairman Greg Clarke has acknowledged he cannot be sure whether past abuses were covered up.

On Thursday, striker Gary Johnson, 57, said Chelsea had paid him £50,000 not to go public with allegations that he was sexually abused by the club's former chief scout Eddie Heath.

And solicitor Tom West told Sky News he had been contacted by another former first team player, who was remaining anonymous, who had been to the police to allege he had been sexually assaulted by Heath.

"Eddie Heath used to hang around the offices at Stamford Bridge and would grope my client and some of the other boys when they were playing snooker," he said.

"Eddie Heath was a big chap - apparently 6'6, he had an intimidating presence and I think it was quite frightening for my client."