SCHOOL KICK-OFF IN LIMBO
EXCLUSIVE Parents demand answers as Coast soccer academy linked to alleged embezzler of college funds
A DIRECTOR of an elite school spruiked a new soccer academy for the Gold Coast three months before he was charged over an alleged $4.6 million embezzlement scheme.
It comes as angry parents have accused the man behind the football school, Marty Calvert, of going to ground, after receiving thousands of dollars in “non-refundable” school trial fees.
The Bulletin has learnt that Kevin
Ferguson, a former director of Kimberley College at Logan, met with Gold Coast City Councillor Bob La Castra on June 18 over plans to establish a speciality soccer school, the Queensland Football School (QFS).
A FORMER director of an elite school spruiked a new soccer academy for the Gold Coast three months before he was charged over an alleged $4.6 million embezzlement scheme.
It comes as angry parents have accused the man behind the football school of going to ground, after receiving thousands of dollars in “nonrefundable” school trial fees.
The Bulletin has learnt that Kevin Ferguson, a former director of Kimberley College at Logan, met with Gold Coast City Councillor Bob La Castra on June 18 over plans to establish a speciality soccer school, the Queensland Football School (QFS).
Cr La Castra told the Bulletin that Mr Ferguson approached his office on behalf of QFS to detail plans to open in January 2020 at the ItaloAustralian Club at Clear Island Waters.
He has had no contact with the councillor since.
“I can confirm Kevin Ferguson met with myself and someone from my office about the plans for the Queensland Football School in the area. I can’t remember anything else,” Cr La Castra said.
In September, Mr Ferguson was one of three people charged with allegedly siphoning $4.6 million from Kimberley College over a seven-year period. Mr Ferguson’s wife Amy Ferguson and father-in-law Paul Thomson, the school’s former principal, have also been charged.
Mr Ferguson is facing one count of fraud, dishonestly gaining benefit or advantage as an employee where the yield is greater than $100,000, and dishonest application of property of another greater than $100,000.
Mr Ferguson is not named on the QFS website or listed as a director. He did not reply to the Bulletin’s request for comment.
It is not suggested that the charges against Mr Ferguson had any connection to QFS.
The revelations follow complaints from parents who
I CAN CONFIRM KEVIN FERGUSON MET WITH MYSELF AND SOMEONE FROM MY OFFICE ABOUT THE PLANS
CR BOB LA CASTRA
forked out $150 for their children to trial for a place at QFS on October 14.
Parents say they have not heard from QFS director Marty Calvert or school staff since the “tryout” event, which attracted at least 70 children.
Multiple attempts by the Bulletin to contact Mr Calvert, a former Futsal international, via text message, Facebook, email and phone calls over the past week have gone unanswered.
Mr Calvert announced the school in July amid a flurry of social media activity. The brother of Socceroo legend Tim Cahill, Chris Cahill, was announced as head of performance.
The proposed school was to cater for students from Years 4-12, with a focus on football training and development, all for a fee of $5000 a year.
Artist impressions of the school showed a two-storey soccer ball-themed classroom block, a science laboratory and soccer pitch. A bus service was also promised for the selected students.
But the website and social media accounts have not been updated since the October 14 trials.
“We were left in limbo as we were told there was to be another trial, which hasn’t eventuated, and I have emailed and sent Facebook messages which have all gone unanswered,” one parent told the Bulletin.
“I have asked for a refund of my deposit and have withdrawn my son’s application. Again, no response.”
Another parent said she had considered pulling her children out of their current school for a place at the QFS in January.
“There is absolutely no evidence of any school being established,” the mother said. “I have sent three follow ups in messages and there would be about half-a-dozen emails from myself and my husband. Unfortunately they have no contact details except email or Facebook.
“Everything has gone dead quiet since the trials. I assumed they simply weren’t going to be ready by next year because there has been no progress on the suggested site either, but I had hoped they would at least advise us, especially when kids are involved and excited by the prospect of what they were offering. It’s disheartening.”
Mr Calvert had announced the opening of the school at the Italo-Australian Club in a flashy promotional online video on September 10. However, Non-State School Accreditation Board records show an application for the change of site was only lodged three days later.
As of this week a decision by the State Government board to approve the school’s location was still to be made.
Development plans for the football-themed classrooms spruiked on social media by
Mr Calvert are also yet to be submitted to the council.
According to a council spokesman, potential noncompliance with the flood code was raised during a prelodgement meeting in September.
Italo-Australian Club president Robyn Wallas said the QFS had negotiated to use older buildings on the site while the school dealt with the council. The Bulletin understands key staff including Gold Coast United technical director Craig Midgley and Jamie Dixon and Chris Cahill have distanced themselves from the school.
Gold Coast United, which supported the school’s announcement mid-year, said it was approached by the school to provide coaching expertise and to have an input into the football curriculum.
The club would not detail if it had any contact with Mr Calvert since October.
“The club is focused on the development of young players and will continue to support any school in the region that provides further opportunities for that to occur,” a spokesman said.