PFA Charity trustees see legal bid dismissed

A HIGH COURT judge has thrown out an extraordinary and pre-emptive attempt by four PFA Charity executives to stop the Charity Commission from finding them guilty of mismanagement.

In a bizarre move many saw as an act of desperation, former players including Garth Crooks and Brendon Batson launched legal action against the regulator which is investigating the PFA Charity and is widely expected to deliver devastating findings. Crooks and Batson, trustees of the much-maligned charity arm of the players’ union, engaged lawyers Brabners to take action against the Commission, which has already said it has ‘serious concerns’ over a ‘conflict of interests’ at the PFA Charity, while its inquiry is ongoing. Also named in the action were Gareth Griffiths, a PFA Charity trustee, and Darren Wilson, a former PFA finance director. The group sought a declaration that they had not been guilty of a breach of duty or mismanagement.

In a further blow, the judge ordered the quartet to pay costs. The PFA Charity had previously gone on record to deny that either they or the PFA were funding what is likely to have been a very expensive and ultimately fruitless action.