The Ridsdale Effect

[dom9]

He's done it again.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/14749794.stm

Senior players at Plymouth Argyle are considering not playing this weekend because they have not been paid again, BBC Devon understands.

The Pilgrims, who will play away against Burton Albion, will send a side out but it is not known yet which senior professionals will be involved.

The move comes after the Plymouth Argyle Fans Trust said staff still had not been paid their wages for August.

That is in spite of announcements that funding for a takeover was in place.

Gibraltar-based property firm Bishop International announced last week that it was planning the takeover.

"Despite firm assurances, the players and staff at Argyle have today once again not received payment of their wages," the trust said in a statement.

No news on a completion of a deal to take over the club have been announced.

Under the plans Bishop International would buy Home Park and land surrounding it for around £6m, with acting chairman Peter Ridsdale then buying the club for a nominal fee.
Continue reading the main story

Plymouth Argyle Fans Trust

And the Trust say that they are even more dismayed as the club has had four home games in August: "The Argyle Fans Trust would like to express in the strongest possible terms its disappointment, frustration and anger at the further delays in the ongoing sale of the Football Club.

"We call on the administrator to meet with supporters representatives as soon as possible to discuss this situation."

The Trust is set to have a meeting with fans over the next few days to try and put pressure on the deal to either be completed, or opened up to new bidders.

"The shifting of deadlines, hollow statements and false promises has to end. The line in the sand is drawn. Plymouth Argyle supporters demand and deserve answers," the Trust said.

Attempts by the BBC to contact Argyle's administrators and Ridsdale were unsuccessful.

How is he ever a fit or proper person to run anything?

[Exiled_red]

The FA shouldn't let him near another football club

[Cormack74]

The FA shouldn't let him near another football club

If memory serves he was invited in "to help"

[Exiled_red]

If memory serves he was invited in "to help"

Oh dear

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

[ChesterDave]

He is the type of hideous cretin that represents everything objectionable about the world.

A complete and utter clueless ****up that soils everything he touches yet always comes away rich. He shouldnt be allowed to run a village fete let alone a football club or business.

[IN_RAFA_WE_TRUST]

[barnes10]

saw him at the albert hall once ...

[barnes10]

...with rick parry. no lie

[Exiled_red]

[ChesterDave]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19819177

Peter Ridsdale banned from being company director

Football club chairman Peter Ridsdale has been disqualified from acting as a company director for seven and a half years, the Insolvency Service has said.

His sports consultancy collapsed in 2009 owing £442,353 in tax.

An inquiry found that the 60-year-old channelled payments from football clubs into his personal bank account instead of a company account.

Mr Ridsdale, now chairman of Preston North End, said his lawyers were studying advice he was given.

The ban follows an Insolvency Service investigation. The finding does not relate to his footballing duties as chairman of various clubs.

Mr Ridsdale said the disqualification, for which he has given an undertaking, was "a result of ongoing issues with a personal matter which occurred in 2009".

Future in football
The ban prevents Mr Ridsdale from acting as a director, but also from taking part - directly or indirectly - in the promotion, formation or management of a company.

A spokesman for the Insolvency Service said: "It is up to Mr Ridsdale or the club to decide what his work is and whether or not he is involved in the management or control of the club. We do not know what his terms and conditions are."

In a statement, Mr Ridsdale said: "I am currently undertaking a role of Chairman of Football at Preston North End but am not a director nor at any time have I sought to be one.

"The issues that have brought about this voluntary undertaking are currently in the hands of my lawyers who are dealing with all outstanding issues including the professional advice that was given to both myself and my personal company at the time."

A spokesman for Preston North End said: "We are aware of it [the finding] but cannot say anything at the moment."

Mr Ridsdale has previously been chairman of Leeds United, Barnsley and Cardiff City football clubs.

Under Mr Ridsdale's chairmanship Leeds United built up an attacking team which reached the semi-final of the Champions League in 2001.

Tax bill
Mr Ridsdale, of Carnforth in Lancashire, will now be banned from acting as a company director from 19 October to 18 April 2020.

The ban relates to his actions as director of WH Sports Group Limited (WHSG), which provided sports and leisure consultancy services to football clubs from 2003.

The company went into liquidation in April 2009, owing £478,698 - the vast majority of which was owed in tax to HM Revenue and Customs.

Mr Ridsdale did not dispute findings that:

Payments totalling £347,000, for services provided by the business to a football club where he was chairman, were paid into his personal bank account between May 2007 and March 2009 instead of to the company's account
He did not disclose the relevant transactions to the liquidator of the company who was subsequently told of them by the football club
He failed to ensure tax payments were made by the company. Unpaid tax at the time of liquidation included £166,421 in corporation tax, £102,279 in income tax and national insurance, and £173,653 in VAT
He failed to make sure the business filed accounts on three successive occasions
"As someone who has had many directorships, Mr Ridsdale ought to be aware of the responsibilities that come with such a position," said Claire Entwistle, director of company investigations north at the Insolvency Service.

Mr Ridsdale's wife - Sophie Victoria Ridsdale - who was co-director of the company, has also been disqualified. The 45-year-old will be banned from taking any directorships from 19 October to April 2016.

"These disqualifications should serve as a reminder that the Insolvency Service will investigate unacceptable conduct and deal robustly with directors who harm creditors by using unacceptable financial practice," Claire Entwistle added.

[Shaggy]

What a ****ing conman. Why has it taken so long to deal with him?

[Shaggy]

'Ridsdale will remain as football chairman'

[ChesterDave]

I don't see how he can possibly do so. I don't see how a chairman cannot be involved in the running on the club. The manager doesn't have sole control. He has his superiors. The Chairman heads the board so must be managing the situation.

[tsb]

What a ****ing conman. Why has it taken so long to deal with him?

The DTI had its funding cut a few years ago and now only really goes after high profile cases with a lot of public interest (e.g. Farepak). For all other minor cases, directors transgressions are "noted" and then "kept on file" should a further incident arise.

Thankfully, Ridsdale dodgy dealing has finally caught up with him!