Football boss accused of blackmail Coach charged with demanding ‘£12,000 with menaces’ from club chairman
THE manager of a football club has been charged with blackmail over an alleged attempt to demand more than £12,000 from the chairman of his former club.
Julian Workman, 47, of Redditch Borough Football Club is accused of demanding the money from Redditch United FC chairman Chris Swan “with menaces”.
Mr Workman, himself a former director at United between 2014 and 2016, worked there with Mr Swan. The football coach, from Northleach Close, Redditch, was arrested and charged with blackmail, contrary to Section 21 of the Theft Act. He appeared at Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court on April 10, and will appear at Crown Court this week.
Magistrates were told that the Redditch Borough manager, who has also been a children’s football coach and referee, was charged “between April 10, 2017 and June 2, 2017 at Redditch with a view to gain for yourself or another, or with intent to cause loss for another, made an unwarranted demand for £12,120 from Chris Swan with menaces”. The case was committed to Worcester Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Thursday (May 10), when Mr Workman will have an opportunity to enter his plea.
Redditch Borough FC was founded as a junior under-10s team in 2006 by Mr Workman and Michael Pearce when their sons could not get into any local teams. They later opened up the club to the community and ground-shared with Redditch United for a spell.
Mr Workman has been involved with the club ever since, and is currently first team manager of both the men’s and women’s teams. His Linkedin page states he is also a director at Walls and Ceilings International Ltd, based in Alcester.
Mr Workman previously coached Redditch United Juniors, and was Director of Football in charge of junior and senior football development at the club’s Valley Stadium.
Club chairman Chris Swan took over Redditch United in March 2011 with the club facing major financial problems. The Reds finished 14th this season in the Southern League Premier Division.