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Huge implications for Fleetwood as owner is found guilty of fraud and will face jail time

There are huge implications for Fleetwood Town as owner Andy Pilley is found guilty of fraud and will face jail time according to reports.

He was found guilty Friday on four counts for fraud following an eight-month long trial.

BES Utilities, Pilley’s firm, was charged with a multi-million-pound fraud that involved mis-selling energy supply contracts to smaller businesses.

The 52-year old was found guilty of all charges, including two counts of operating a business in order to defraud creditors, one of making false statements, and another of being concerned about the retention of criminal properties.

Pilley’s sister Michelle Davidson, Lee Qualter; and Joel Chapman, of were also found guilty.

Pilley has been remanded into custody following the unanimous jury verdict. The presiding Judge, Judge Knowles KC indicated that Pilley will most likely be sentenced to prison on the 23rd of May, when he is sentenced.

The guilty verdict on Friday could have long-lasting ramifications for the club, owned by Pilley’s since 2004 where he took the club from the ninth tier to League One.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Following news of a verdict in a court case involving Andy Pilley, the club would like to issue the following update.

Fleetwood Town would like to reassure supporters the Club will continue to operate as normal and there will be no risk to the future of the club.

The Club’s Senior Management Team and directors have been planning for a number of months for the event of a verdict of this nature.

A meeting of the Club’s management has taken place this evening and plans are already in operation to ensure its business as usual.

We’d like to reassure supporters charges are solely brought against Andy Pilley and not Fleetwood Town Football Club or any of the businesses attached to the group.

Talks have already taken place with the EFL and an announcement regarding the next step will be made in due course.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

A spokesperson for the EFL said, as per the Daily Mail: ‘The EFL takes note of today’s guilty verdict from the court regarding the case involving Fleetwood Town chairman Andy Pilley.

‘The League now will discuss the implications with officials from the Club within the context of Owners’s and Directors’ Test.

No further comments will be made.

Appendix 3 to the EFL Owners’ and Director’s Test prohibits anyone who ‘is subject to a Disqualifying Condition” from running a football team or influencing its running.

Appendix to the EFL rules states that criminal convictions for crimes involving a “Dishonest act” – like larceny, fraud or corruption – are disqualifying.

Pilley was accused of the allegations after a five-year Trading Standards investigation into BES Utilities.

Pilley now owns Fleetwood Town and the League of Ireland First Division outfit Waterford after purchasing the latter in August 2022

He talked about his plans to increase Fleetwood Town’s revenue in 2021 by launching a multi-club ownership model based on the Manchester City model, buying Dubai based Fleetwood United, as well as Western Cape Fleetwood, a club in South Africa. This was done to increase the player pool of the club and strengthen the international academy at Fleetwood Town.

This is what social media users said amid the huge implications for Fleetwood as the owner is found guilty of fraud and will face jail time…

@BrooklynDon6: Fleetwood are completely dependent on the money of one man. This is the danger any club faces when one person is the source of funds. Their business could go bad, they could have health problems or face pokey time. Minus a buyer, they could be the next Southend.

@kevingentile1: Well… who would have guessed?

@KevindeHiggins: What sort of implications do you reckon? Are there financial repercussions for a business owner convicted of fraud? Both Fleetwood and Waterford FC statements say nothing will be affected, which obviously many are sceptical to believe

@_tomtownsend: Oh dear never mind, goodbye FTFC.

@martinbridge59: Another Chairman’s fit and proper check done correctly by the EFL. Job well done. (Or did he offer to pay your gas bills)?

@c_f_2023: That’s what happens when you mislead people! I worked at his energy company years ago and it was a complete scam…. Hasn’t he been done before as well.

@seahampirlo: A man who employed Joey Barton is a bit of a dick? I am SHOCKED

@NickCatterall: About time. I’ve been saying this for over a decade.

@Gazz_TheRover: Fucking hell 😬

@ConorSheerin_00: I wonder what will happen to @WaterfordFCie too 😕

@_mattsimpsonn: Still probably passes the FA owners and directors test

@ChrisVesseyCUFC: Back to the North West Counties you go 👋👋

@willotrfc: Dodgy money I take it? Always going to happen. Can’t stand teams living beyond their means. Payed some serious money for Marriott and Shockley last season as well.

@tandwpod: This has been coming for a very long time

@FollowTheTown1: Say what you like about our Chairman but things could be a lot worse … #salop

@kieranb81: Spent a ridiculous sum in January and now this happens.. she won’t always get everything right and that’s ok but times like this got to be grateful for Carols ownership #pvfc

@PicardyBreezer: Ever likely they had that bumper January 😂😂😂 Big trouble now.

@robertkilcoyne3: Pilley will surely now be classed as not fit and proper under the Owners and Directors Test (inadequate though that is) and he will have to sell his shareholding in Fleetwood Town. The club will probably sell some players in the summer to raise funds and to reduce the wage bill

@robertkilcoyne3: It also depends how much Pilley has been funding the club from his own resources. Now that Pilley will be jailed, that funding will be cut off, so the club will have to operate on a very restricted budget, unless Pilley’s solicitors can find someone to buy the club.

@DanClarkPR:
-4 points for Wigan and Fleetwood’s owner off to jail.
The next L1 season won’t be a normal one that’s for sure.
Again, independent regulator needed.

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