THERE’LL BE WELL TO PAY
Fir Park fury as club probe missing money collected for disabled supporters’ group
MOTHERWELL Football Club are investigating “major discrepancies” in a fan group’s finances.
The former treasurer of the disabled supporters’ association at Fir Park failed to file accounts for 18 months.
When bank statements were finally obtained, there was no record of gate receipts from disabled away fans and cash collected by fundraising.
Minutes of an extraordinary general meeting show the group are trying to recover £1500 from John McCaskie, who was recently removed from his position as treasurer.
Motherwell Football Club Disabled Supporters Association chairman Darren McPhee said: “There’s money missing. How much is missing, we don’t know.”
“We’re allowed to keep the gate receipts from disabled away fans, which we are supposed to use to improve the experience for disabled supporters.
“An average game can bring in £150. It can be up to £300 if it’s an Old Firm game. We also have bucket collections and a race night.
“We don’t know how much of it made it to the bank.
“We obtained bank statements and discovered there was also a lump sum of £1500 transferred from our account to John McCaskie’s personal account and no receipts to explain why.”
It is understood the association and the club have been aware of problems with the finances for several weeks but police have yet to be called in.
A source, who was at the EGM but asked not to be named, said: “The association are in denial about this.
“I don’t know why they’re dragging their heels. I want to take it further.”
MFCDSA repeatedly requested accounts from McCaskie over 18 months, the EGM minutes show.
Bank statements were later obtained through another signatory and “major discrepancies” were found. The minutes said: “The paper trail … does not include any cash payments taken, for example, at gates, bucket collections and at last year’s race night.”
According to the minutes, former committee members admitted “taking £1500 so far”.
The club’s accountant Fiona Larnach has now taken control of the association’s finances.
McPhee added: “Fiona is trying to carry out an investigation. When she finalises that, we’ll hand it all over to the police.”
After a reporter asked McCaskie about the concerns raised at the EGM, he said: “I’m not refuting that. It was a mistake and I’m paying it back. That’s all I want to say.”
His wife Sharon is still listed as a contact for disabled fans on the club’s website, despite standing down as secretary when John was removed as treasurer.
A club spokesman said: “Motherwell Football Club were made aware of alleged financial discrepancies within the Motherwell FC Disabled Supporters Association, who are a completely independent fan group with an elected board and office bearers.
“In partnership with the current MFCDSA chairman Darren McPhee, the club launched an immediate investigation, which is ongoing.
“At its conclusion, if there is anything incorrect or any indication of theft of fraud, all information received will be passed to Police Scotland.”