Saints hit back after tax chiefs’ criticism

St Johnstone Football Club has been forced to defend its financial practices after it was named and shamed as a “rogue employer” by tax bosses.

The Perth side featured on a list of 139 British companies that failed to pay £6.7 million to more than 95,000 workers.

HMRC accused the club of short-changing 28 workers by just over £14,200 – about £500 per employee.

But Saints said the issue was resolved after a probe by tax officers more than three years ago.

A statement released by the club on Thursday morning said bosses “enabled HM Revenues and Customs to conclude a very lengthy scrutiny of its working practices in relation to the national minimal wage.”

The spokesman said: “H MR C looked at employees across the full spectrum of the club’s activities from professional football operation and match day staffing, to the club’s weekday operations which covered matters such as catering and conferencing.”

He added :“The outcome of this historic HMRC investigation was that they identified arrears amounting to £14,246 which was due to 28 different employees from the previous five years to 2017.

“As required, the club made arrangements for these former employees to be paid the relevant amounts.”

Of the affected staff, 25 were apprentice footballers.

The club said hours of work undertaken by apprentices was fully reviewed following the probe, and changes were put in place.

The spokesman added: “The club prides itself in treating our staff fairly and we are extremely disappointed to find ourselves in a position whereby we are criticised for failing to meet national minimum wage requirements.”