Charities watchdog investigates finances at football museum

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Charities watchdog investigates finances at football museum
Iain Wilson Chief reporter
SCOTLAND'S national football museum is being probed by the charities watchdog amid claims of financial mismanagement at the hands of the Scottish Football Association.

The Strathclyde European Partnership which distributed (pounds) 2.1m of taxpayers' money to the museum via regional development funds, is also investigating.

Their inquiries follow the receipt of a 92-page dossier from Ged O'Brien, the museum's former project manager and director.

He alleges that the museum trust - consisting mainly of directors of the Scottish Football Association - has neither fulfilled the criteria for charitable status nor adhered to the rules governing charities.

Mr O'Brien further claims that the Scottish Football Association Museum Trust has failed to safeguard the museum's interests.

He alleges that the trust is not run as an independent charity but as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the SFA for its benefit, and as such should not be claiming tax relief or VAT rebates.

Six of the nine trustees are directors of the SFA or its subsidiaries.

John McBeth, the chairman, is SFA president, while others include David Taylor, the SFA chief executive, Bill Dickie, a former SFA president, and Campbell Ogilvie, the Rangers secretary.

Mr O'Brien also wants an investigation into the links between the museum and Hampden Park Ltd, which runs the national stadium.

The trust pays about (pounds) 200,000 a year in rent and common charges to Hampden Park Ltd, which is an SFA subsidiary.

The SFA and subsidiary referred inquiries to the trust, a limited company as well as a charity.

Its spokesman said: ''These false and totally unfounded allegations from a disgruntled former employee with an agenda are a blatant abuse of the media for personal purposes. We have no wish to comment further.''

However, Laurie Russell, chief executive of the Strathclyde European Partnership, said: ''The issues raised in the complaint are serious, and we need to investigate them thoroughly.''

The possibility of a funds clawback was not ruled out if the allegations were proved or the museum failed to deliver on attendances and jobs.

According to the SEP, whose members include Scottish Enterprise and local authoritities across the west of Scotland, museum attendances are supposed to hit 250,000 a year, including 100,000 from outwith the immediate area.

Annual accounts lodged by the trust at Companies House show admissions income of just (pounds) 54,453 to December 2002. Current charges are (pounds) 5 for adults and (pounds) 2.50 for children.

A Scottish Charity Regulator spokesman said: ''All complaints we receive will be investigated.''

[superbob52]

Now this looks interesting a wee break away from the huns.