Goals Soccer Centres loses chief executive
Goals Soccer Centres, the Scottish five-a-side football operator, suffered a major blow yesterday as chief executive Andy Anson quit to head up the British Olympic Association.
The EastKilbri be-based group, which is one of the biggest firms of its kind, running 50 sites in the UK and US, said that Anson was committed to remain with the firm for the next six months to “assist in resolving its accounting and VAT issues”.
In March, Goals revealed that it had uncovered “sub - st anti al” VAT accounting errors estimated so far at some £12 million.
It said its board had concluded that the VAT misdeclaration issues dated back several years, although the final value of the error is still being established. The group, whose shares were suspended on London’s junior Alternative Investment Market (Aim), also warned that new VAT accounting policies it plans to adopt are likely to have an impact on its future earnings.
Anson is to take up the role of chief executive at the British Olympic Association where he is already a board member.
Goals chairman Michael Bo ling broke said :“Whilst Andy’s decision is disappointing, particularly at this challenging time for the company, the board respects Andy’s decision to take a role that is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him.”
Earlier in March, the firm – in which Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct business empire owns a significant stake – warned that its profits would be “materially below expectations” following the discover y of the accounting errors.