SFA TO INVESTIGATE OWNER OF JUNIOR CLUB

a number of high-profile sports outfits. Football and basketball teams backed by Clarke EPOS have now severed their ties with the firm after scheduled cash payments failed to arrive.

Premiership Livingston confirmed they had ended their agreement ‘with immediate effect and to protect the club’s interests’ after sums of around £20,000 went unpaid.

League One Falkirk, meanwhile, have won a court decree ordering Clarke EPOS to stump up around £25,000.

A Falkirk statement said yesterday: ‘We can confirm that, with respect to its sponsorship of Falkirk FC during season 2021-22, Clarke EPOS (UK) Limited failed to meet its payment obligations in full and the club raised a court action to recover the monies rightfully due.

‘On 7 June 2022 the Court found in favour of the club and awarded a summary decree in its favour. The order issued by the Court entitles the club to recover the full amounts claimed, interest on the late payment and the recovery of legal expenses incurred.

‘The club is presently waiting for Clarke EPOS to comply with this order and will make no further comment at this time.’

West of Scotland League sides Glenafton and Whitletts Victoria have also cut their links with Clarke EPOS over claims of outstanding payments. And professional basketball team Glasgow Rocks have confirmed legal action after they failed to receive a penny of the cash pledged under a two-year sponsorship.

‘Glasgow Rocks are disappointed to confirm that Clarke EPOS has failed to meet its payment obligations in regard to its sponsorship for the 2021-22 season and are no longer associated with the club,’ said a statement. ‘We are currently pursuing legal action against the company.’

Clarke EPOS were confirmed as the main backers of the Scottish Lowland Football League, the fifth tier of the national pyramid, in January.

Lowland League sources claim their payments are up to date. However, with the B teams of Celtic, Hearts and Rangers due to kick off the new season as guests of the league on July 23, league chiefs are preparing to distance themselves from the firm.

The SFA have been made aware of the allegations of unpaid cash and will look into whether the owner of one of their member clubs has failed to act in good faith towards other clubs.

A prominent name in Scottish football sponsorship circles, Clarke was linked with a bid for control of Ayr United in 2014 under the guise of Restoraroof & Walls Ltd, a company liquidated in October 2016.

Approached for comment by Sportsmail, Clarke EPOS vowed to pursue a counter legal claim against Falkirk for what they alleged was failing to honour the terms of a shirt-sponsorship agreement, failing to install the company’s cardpayment terminals and breaching the terms of a confidentiality clause between the two sides. They added: ‘A further statement will be made in due course.’