WATMORE WOULD HAVE FACED EFL DISCIPLINARY HEARING
NEW ECB chairman Ian watmore would have faced a formal disciplinary hearing at the Football League if he had not suddenly resigned as a director 18 months ago. On a day english cricket’s governing body escalated their inquiries into watmore’s most recent role in sport by assigning two board members to look into his departure from the EFL, Sportsmail can disclose the key findings of an independent investigation. It was commissioned the week before he quit the EFL, citing poor health, in November 2018.
As Sportsmail revealed yesterday, a whistleblowing investigation report was triggered following claims that watmore, a former FA chief executive, was part of a clandestine plot that could have jeopardised the EFL’s record £595million television contract with Sky Sports. This secret report was completed and passed to the EFL board in February 2019, but not shared with the 72 clubs or watmore, although he was aware it was being compiled.
The investigation, carried out by law firm Gateley, issues a damning verdict on watmore’s behaviour when undermining the board’s agreed position as they tried to finish negotiations over a TV contract towards the end of his four-month tenure. written by Gateley partner Andrew Macmillan, it states: ‘If this was a disciplinary investigation I would have concluded there was a case for Ian watmore to answer at a disciplinary hearing.’ The report’s conclusion appears to raise questions over watmore’s suitability for the top job at Lord’s and the rigour of the ECB’s recruitment process.
The ECB admitted on Monday that they were unaware of the allegations against watmore — and the existence of the independent investigation — until being informed by Sportsmail.
English cricket’s governing body had presided over a lengthy search for a new chairman, involving global headhunting firm Odgers Berndtson, which culminated in the appointment of the senior civil servant in February. watmore is standing by his position that he did nothing wrong in holding talks with Derby owner Mel Morris over alternatives to the TV deal with Sky. The 61-year-old is frustrated
by the EFL’s refusal to share the report with him. A request for access was denied by his former employers yesterday and Watmore’s exasperation is believed to be shared by some at the ECB.
Watmore was never subject to disciplinary proceedings at the EFL as he resigned three months before the report into his conduct was completed. He has told the ECB that he would have vigorously defended himself had he faced action. He has also told the ECB he was unaware anyone at the EFL had issues with his conduct, although this claim appears to be contradicted by the existence of the independent investigation.
‘During my short period at the organisation I operated with honesty and integrity and, until today, I have not heard any reports from the EFL that their view is any different,’ Watmore told Sportsmail this week.
However, the independent report concludes that Watmore’s actions undermined the position taken by the board — particularly as his meeting with Morris took place without their knowledge.
It also details how Watmore produced a so- called ‘straw man document’ as an alternative to the Sky deal, which he shared with Morris, and suggests he may have passed on confidential information which breached the terms of his appointment.
The report states: ‘Every witness we spoke to regarding this issue expressed, at the very least, surprise that Ian Watmore had solicited and attended the meeting with Mel Morris and sent him the ‘straw man’ document, without the knowledge and approval of the board.
‘This was particularly the case in view of the particularly difficult atmosphere that witnesses said prevailed, including the threat of a ‘breakaway’, the threat of legal proceedings and intense media interest.
‘Ian Watmore’s straw man set out a number of scenarios, many of which had been discussed at board meetings, and identified areas in which the EFL was seeking legal advice. To the extent he disclosed confidential information to Mel Morris, Ian Watmore would have been in breach of clause 7.1 of his Letter of Appointment which required him not to do so “without prior clearance from the senior independent director”.
‘His straw man failed to set out clearly what he said his primary position was in relation to the existing offer from Sky (namely that it should be accepted) and instead set out a five- point alternative approach which might reasonably be interpreted by some as his preferred outcome, contrary to the position taken by the board.
‘If this was a disciplinary investigation I would have concluded there was a case for Ian Watmore to answer at a disciplinary hearing in respect of this allegation. However, as Ian Watmore has resigned that is neither appropriate nor necessary.’
ECB chief executive Tom Harrison assigned two board members to look into the allegations against Watmore yesterday.
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