Post by Macmoish on Jan 14, 2011 7:41:34 GMT
The Guardian/The Digger - Matt Scott
Sheffield Wednesday's new recruit fighting to clear his name
• Paul Aldridge involved in Tevez-Mascherano deal
• Alleged to have told 'direct lie' to Richard Scudamore
Paul Aldridge is set to join the board of Sheffield Wednesday, still disputing the findings of a disciplinary tribunal four years ago that he told a "direct lie" to the Premier League's chief executive.
Milan Mandaric, the Hillsborough club's new owner, has already employed the former managing director of West Ham as a consultant during the acquisition: now the relationship looks set to become more formal.
Simon Bourne-Arton QC's tribunal in April 2007 was highly critical of Aldridge's conduct and the lie he allegedly told to Richard Scudamore in September 2006, aimed at smoothing the registrations of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano at Upton Park.
Lord Griffiths's arbitration in 2008 reinforced the claim that Aldridge's assertions to Scudamore had been "untrue". Yet in neither hearing was Aldridge called to give witness testimony, a fact he reasonably claimed offended natural justice. He continues to protest his innocence and a statement on the Premier League's website in 2007, following a legal complaint from Aldridge, confirmed that Bourne‑Arton's commission had refused him the opportunity to give his version of events.
Aldridge's co-option brings yet more colour to the Hillsborough hierarchy. Mandaric may face trial this spring on charges of cheating the public revenue.
Nick Parker, the chief executive who guaranteed Wednesday's future by carrying the club through difficulties with Revenue & Customs last year, was yesterday removed as a director. Mandaric could not talk when Digger called yesterday. Aldridge and the Wednesday director Howard Wilkinson were also unavailable for comment.
Levy's claim challenged
Tottenham Hotspur continue to work hard to justify relocation out of their native Haringey borough to the Olympic Stadium – in West Ham United's Newham – with the latest round in their offensive taking place on Wednesday. But 24 hours earlier a debate in the House of Commons on the regeneration of the Tottenham area had provided an interesting insight into some of Spurs' claims.
Daniel Levy, Spurs' shareholder-chairman, announced on the Spurs website in November that the club's lack of access to public funds in the stadium development obliged it to consider moving east. "This is in contrast to the stadia developments of Arsenal and Wembley, which were both awarded public-sector assistance," declared Levy.
Wembley's status as the national stadium probably justified that support, but Levy's claims have been challenged over Arsenal. Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North, told the Commons on Tuesday: "The relocation of stadiums is a difficult issue. Arsenal and Islington worked very closely to ensure that the new stadium was built in Islington without any public subsidy."
Digger learns the assertion by Corbyn was founded on information he had sought from the local council's chief executive, who told him Islington could not have provided Arsenal with financial assistance on the grounds that it would have been state aid.
Happy at The Valley
One of the consortiums that made unsuccessful bids for Charlton Athletic last month had plans to take the club away from The Valley, the club's hard-won home for 85 of the past 92 years. The proposed relocation site was the now-disused Tate & Lyle factory to the west of Charlton on the Greenwich peninsula, which the consortium's prospectus said would be suitable to house a 40,000-seat stadium. Charlton's new owners are highly unlikely to adopt the scheme as their own.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/14/sheffield-wednesday-milan-mandaric
Sheffield Wednesday's new recruit fighting to clear his name
• Paul Aldridge involved in Tevez-Mascherano deal
• Alleged to have told 'direct lie' to Richard Scudamore
Paul Aldridge is set to join the board of Sheffield Wednesday, still disputing the findings of a disciplinary tribunal four years ago that he told a "direct lie" to the Premier League's chief executive.
Milan Mandaric, the Hillsborough club's new owner, has already employed the former managing director of West Ham as a consultant during the acquisition: now the relationship looks set to become more formal.
Simon Bourne-Arton QC's tribunal in April 2007 was highly critical of Aldridge's conduct and the lie he allegedly told to Richard Scudamore in September 2006, aimed at smoothing the registrations of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano at Upton Park.
Lord Griffiths's arbitration in 2008 reinforced the claim that Aldridge's assertions to Scudamore had been "untrue". Yet in neither hearing was Aldridge called to give witness testimony, a fact he reasonably claimed offended natural justice. He continues to protest his innocence and a statement on the Premier League's website in 2007, following a legal complaint from Aldridge, confirmed that Bourne‑Arton's commission had refused him the opportunity to give his version of events.
Aldridge's co-option brings yet more colour to the Hillsborough hierarchy. Mandaric may face trial this spring on charges of cheating the public revenue.
Nick Parker, the chief executive who guaranteed Wednesday's future by carrying the club through difficulties with Revenue & Customs last year, was yesterday removed as a director. Mandaric could not talk when Digger called yesterday. Aldridge and the Wednesday director Howard Wilkinson were also unavailable for comment.
Levy's claim challenged
Tottenham Hotspur continue to work hard to justify relocation out of their native Haringey borough to the Olympic Stadium – in West Ham United's Newham – with the latest round in their offensive taking place on Wednesday. But 24 hours earlier a debate in the House of Commons on the regeneration of the Tottenham area had provided an interesting insight into some of Spurs' claims.
Daniel Levy, Spurs' shareholder-chairman, announced on the Spurs website in November that the club's lack of access to public funds in the stadium development obliged it to consider moving east. "This is in contrast to the stadia developments of Arsenal and Wembley, which were both awarded public-sector assistance," declared Levy.
Wembley's status as the national stadium probably justified that support, but Levy's claims have been challenged over Arsenal. Jeremy Corbyn, MP for Islington North, told the Commons on Tuesday: "The relocation of stadiums is a difficult issue. Arsenal and Islington worked very closely to ensure that the new stadium was built in Islington without any public subsidy."
Digger learns the assertion by Corbyn was founded on information he had sought from the local council's chief executive, who told him Islington could not have provided Arsenal with financial assistance on the grounds that it would have been state aid.
Happy at The Valley
One of the consortiums that made unsuccessful bids for Charlton Athletic last month had plans to take the club away from The Valley, the club's hard-won home for 85 of the past 92 years. The proposed relocation site was the now-disused Tate & Lyle factory to the west of Charlton on the Greenwich peninsula, which the consortium's prospectus said would be suitable to house a 40,000-seat stadium. Charlton's new owners are highly unlikely to adopt the scheme as their own.
www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/14/sheffield-wednesday-milan-mandaric