Football figures including Sammy Lee cleared of charges over Gavin McCann transfer
Monday 21 September 2015 15:14, UK
Senior football figures including former England coach Sammy Lee have been cleared of all charges after being accused of offences over a £1m Premier League transfer deal.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) offered no evidence against Bolton, their chairman Phil Gartside and others from the club, as well as top agent Jerome Anderson and others from his SEM firm, and the retired midfielder Gavin McCann.
Agent Tony McGill started a private prosecution against the parties, following a legal battle over his claims he was cut out of McCann's transfer from Aston Villa to Bolton in 2007.
The CPS took over the case and at a hearing at Newcastle Crown Court, the prosecution formally offered no evidence.
As a technicality, all the charges were read out to the parties from Bolton, SEM and Mr McCann, and "not guilty" pleas were entered to all.
After hearing the CPS was not offering any evidence, Judge Tim Gittins told the defendants: "That brings the matter to an end."
The issue of costs for all sides has yet to be decided.
Lee, currently a coach at Southampton, was Bolton manager at the time of McCann's 2007 move.
He was cleared of conspiracy to defraud McGill in relation to the transfer, and two counts of perverting the course of justice relating to a civil claim in the High Court which followed.
McCann was cleared of conspiracy to defraud, two counts of cheating the public revenue and two counts of perverting the course of justice.
Gartside was cleared of conspiracy to defraud, forgery, cheating the public revenue and two counts of perverting the course of justice.
Frank McParland, who worked for Bolton Wanderers and is now sporting director at Championship rivals Burnley, Simon Marland, Bolton Wanderers secretary, and Bolton football club itself were cleared of all charges.
The SEM agency was also cleared, along with SEM head and super agent Jerome Anderson, and agents Jeffrey Weston, David Sheron and Stephen Horner.
After the hearing McGill, who still works as a football agent, was "very disappointed" and said the case had cost "mega bucks", adding he could not afford to challenge the CPS's decision with a judicial review.
