Middlesex CCC call police on former chief over expenses feud
Middlesex County Cricket Club have called in police to investigate a feud between the club and former chief Richard Goatley, the Lord’s-based outfit confirmed yesterday.
Goatley is no longer at the club but was appointed chief executive in 2015 – he first joined the club in 2005 as Assistant Secretary and Head of Finance.
Middlesex have been chasing Goatley for what they describe as inappropriately claimed expenses. The Cricketer reports the value of the sum is in the tens of thousands.
Goatley insists he is innocent but Middlesex have called in the police and provided evidence to investigators.
Goatley last month lodged a civil case against Middlesex, launching a “personal injury” claim against the county. In the English High Court Case Goatley is represented by Setfords.
It is also reported that Goatley’s severance pay was smaller in comparison to that of someone on a chief executive’s salary and that he has been told he will not be on his expected pension scheme at the club.
It is one of a number of financial issues at the club, who actually turned a profit in their most recent accounts for the first time since they won the County Championship in 2016.
There was an internal investigation into a £350,000 issue in the club’s pension scheme – a figure that once quoted to be £500,000 before a £149,000 recovery – and the club were fined and slapped with a suspended points penalty relating to “historic financial mismanagement” by the ECB last September.
A Middlesex statement after the punishment in September read: “[The] announcement from the ECB draws a line under the matter, and we accept their findings that historically, under previous administration, the club has been poorly financially managed over a number of years.
Middlesex next play tomorrow, in the Vitality Blast T20 competition, at the Cloud County Ground in Chelmsford, home to Essex County Cricket Club.
They then take on the Essex Eagles at the same ground but will be listed as the away team.
Morning Wire have approached Goatley directly for comment.
Middlesex County Cricket Club told Morning Wire they will be making no further comment on the matter until the police investigation concludes.