 The
FA web site, TheFA.com has today issued
details of the charges against Boston United resulting from the Football
Association's Compliance Unit's month long investigation into matters at the
club.The statement on the site reads:
Boston United F.C. have this afternoon been charged by The Football Association as follows:
Six Charges relate to a breach of F.A. Rule C (j) (i). This refers to the lodging at The Football Association of playing contracts
containing false details relating to salaries or other remuneration
in respect of the following players:
- Paul Bastock
- Ken Charlery
- James Dick
- Paul Wilson
- Simon Weatherstone
- Mike Marsh
The above 6 players have not been charged personally by The Football
Association.
A total of 8 Charges have been issued against Manager Steve Evans.
- 6 of these Charges relate to the procuring and assisting in the
submission of contracts with false details, in respect of the six
named players.
- 2 Charges relate to a breach of F.A. Rule E1 - improper conduct -
and centre on allegations that on the 4th June 2002, he procured
that a cash payment of £8,000 be made to a player in an attempt to
mislead, frustrate and impede The F.A. enquiry. Also during the
course of the enquiry, he has made further attempts to persuade
another player to mislead the enquiry.
Former Chairman and current Director Pat Malkinson faces 2 Charges:
- 1 Charge is a breach of F.A. Rule C (j) (i) - relating to the
lodging at The Football Association of one playing contract containing
false details and,
- 1 Charge - Breach of F.A. Rule E1 - improper conduct - relates to
the same alleged conduct as Evans, regarding the payment of £8,000 to
a player.
The club have 14 days to respond, with a hearing convened for
the 18th/19th July 2002.
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Well pretty obviously these are serious charges. The charges relating to lodging
false contracts at the FA are serious enough in themselves and basically say
that the club was running two sets of books, one for public consumption, and a
second set of real books. Players were being paid under the table and therefore
Boston United could attract and keep better players than it could afford to if
its accounting was above board.
Alan Mendham's article here
looks at how cooking the books could effect footballing matters and this is
clearly what was going on to some extent. Given the closeness of the Conference
title race last season it is clear that Dagenham & Redbridge were cheated
out of a place in the Football League last season.
The charges aimed at Steve Evans are bizarre. Firstly they state that he
personally was responsible for the contracts in question. Then there are the 2
charges relating to what looks like an £8,000 bribe to one of the players
involved to mislead the FA enquiry. It would seem that Mr Evans was so desperate
to hide the illegal payments that he stooped to attempted bribery. Pat Malkinson,
former highly respected Chairman of Boston United, appears to have been involved
in this issue of bribery as well.
Boston United have been given 14 days to respond to the charges and the FA is
proposing to pronounce judgement over the 18th/19th July, under a month before
the new season kicks off.
It is going to be an interesting few weeks.
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