Bray Wanderers 'unaware' of any Garda investigation into €450k fraud claim - IRELAND

  

 

Bray Wanderers 'unaware' of any Garda investigation into €450k fraud claim

BRAY Wanderers are facing a serious challenge as the fraud squad and Department of Sport are investigating how €450,000 of Government grants were used by the club.

ut the club last night stated they were "entirely unaware of any Garda investigation" and that Wanderers were "prepared to provide the fullest cooperation with the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport and An Garda Síochána".

A new board is in charge of the club since a takeover last year but they will still have to deal with claims that €452,891 in capital grants was not properly spent. Bray received €1.4m in grants for work on their Carlisle Grounds home between 1998 and 2009 but two former members of the club have provided information to the Department of Sport, claiming that €450,000 was not spent on the stadium but was allocated to other areas of the club.

Wanderers are also being pursued by former player Darren Quigley in relation to disputed payments. The club said: "Bray Wanderers are committed to keeping Premier League football in the town.

The full Bray statement is printed below:

“In October last, Officers past and present of the Club met with officials from the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sport concerning grant-aid to the club under various Sports Capital Programmes.

"One of the conditions attaching to grant approvals was that the project might be subject to inspection by representatives of the Department. The Club was selected to form part of the Department’s 2014 Capital Inspection Programme.

"This inspection duly took place on October 9th last. The Club provided all information requested and cooperated fully with the Department’s inquiries.

"The Club has heard nothing further since then and is not aware of any issue arising from any sports grants received at any time by the Club. It has never been contacted by An Garda Siochana and is entirely unaware of any Garda investigation.

"The Club has been and is always prepared to provide the fullest cooperation with the Department of Tourism, Transport and Sports and An Garda Siochana.

"The Club’s financial books and records are and have been independently audited each financial year and its affairs are entirely compliant .There have never been any issues raised concerning irregularities in its accounts including for the years 2006, 2007 and 2008.

“Regrettably, over the past few weeks the Club has become aware of attempts to prevent the proposed new administration taking place and canvassing the Club to engage in a commercial property development of the Carlisle Grounds. The Club do not accept that this is the way forward.

"Bray Wanderers are committed to keeping Premier League football in the town ,to keeping the Carlisle Grounds open for football and prevent it falling into the hands of property developers, and to move forward with the exciting plans for the coming season and beyond with new investors, local youth and football clubs and the involvement of an enthusiastic community

"As is well known the new administration were not involved in the years 2006 to 2008 when there was an entirely different Board of Directors in control. However, we will cooperate with any official enquiry and will continue to try and get the community of Bray focussed on our football and community endeavours.”