Latest news with #BrianDeane
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Former footballers claim ‘financial grooming' took them to ‘hell and back'
Politicians, campaigners and former footballers have protested at the 'financial grooming' of Premier League stars who claim they were persuaded to put their money into failed investment schemes that led to them being accused of tax avoidance and faced with enormous penalties from HM Revenue & Customs. A host of peers, MPs, lawyers and experts in policing and tax laws gathered in Westminster on Monday night to hear from alleged victims of investment and pension fraud and their subsequent treatment by HMRC. The launch of the investment fraud committee, an all‑party parliamentary group, featured harrowing testimony from several victims over the course of three hours and opened with a heavy focus on issues that are understood to have affected hundreds of former footballers. Sources said that many former players whose careers peaked in the 1990s have become unwell and struggled with their mental health because of their financial problems. The former Manchester United and England striker Andy Cole, the former Leeds striker Brian Deane, the former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Michael Thomas and the former Liverpool and Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy were among those who attended the meeting. Murphy, who has become a leading pundit for the BBC and TalkSport since his retirement, was hit with a £2.5m tax bill after investing in a film scheme that promised tax breaks to investors. The former England international lost a court case in 2019 over £1m he borrowed from the private bank Coutts to invest in the scheme. Deane and Murphy have been at the forefront of the former players' response and have taken extensive guidance from Carly Barnes-Short, a lawyer who is co-chairing the IFC with the Conservative MP Sarah Bool. Barnes-Short spoke of a 'huge injustice' and said some footballers had been exploited during their playing careers by trusted financial advisers. The campaigners argue it was wrong that footballers who invested in failed film schemes later received huge tax bills, penalties and demands for interest payments from HMRC. Comparisons were made with the Post Office Horizon scandal. Murphy offered insight into how bad actors preyed on the naivety of young footballers. 'I couldn't think of a more brilliant place than a football club to find victims,' he said. Murphy explained that young professionals often turned to older teammates and managers for advice on how to manage their money and were then introduced to financial advisers who quickly sought to gain their trust. The 48-year-old said that what occurred was grooming. Murphy, who said there was no intention to avoid tax, talked about how people would insert themselves in players' lives before getting them to agree to investments later down the line. 'Our option [for investment] was these people,' he said. 'It's not footballers, it's young men being manipulated. People can't understand why you got into this position. It makes you feel silly – it adds to the shame. People have been through hell and back. Some are still there.' Murphy talked about former players experiencing depression, anxiety, financial ruin and family breakups. He claimed that HMRC does not have the desire or competence to target the perpetrators of investment fraud. Deane said he found himself in a similar position to Murphy after retiring. He said some people had been pushed to the brink of suicide. 'I watched it break friends' marriages,' Deane said. 'It affects your health and wellbeing.' Alex Sobel, the Labour MP for Leeds Central and Headingley, echoed Murphy by describing it as 'financial grooming'. He said players lost money to fraudsters and criticised HMRC for going after victims of crime. The meeting was also attended by Caroline Nokes, the deputy speaker, and Lady Newlove, the victims' commissioner. John Mann questioned why HMRC pursued what he described as 'notional income' due to the players had the investments succeeded. 'It isn't real money,' Lord Mann said. 'It's potential money. This is what they're hounding people over. I allege HMRC cannot hire people with the skills to address complex fraud.' A spokesperson for HRMC said: 'We sympathise with people who may have lost money by entering such arrangements and handle these on a case-by-case basis, taking the wellbeing of all taxpayers seriously. Anyone who is worried about a tax liability should contact us as soon as possible to talk about options.'
The Sun
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Leeds United legend issues fan warning and urges owners to back boss Daniel Farke for Premier League return
BRIAN DEANE warned Daniel Farke that fans 'will have you' if Leeds United make a poor start to life back in the Premier League. And the legendary ex-Elland Road striker believes there's still 'work to be done' between the German coach and chairman Paraag Marathe. 2 2 Farke and his title-winning side celebrated their club record 100-point haul with an open top bus parade in front of thousands on Monday in the city centre. Marathe 'ended speculation' over the future of the manager by confirming he is 'my man' amid reports of concerns over his ability to keep them up and then vowed to turn the Whites into 'one of the best in Europe'. Deane, who enjoyed two spells as a Leeds player, speaking exclusively to The Sun via BetSelect said: 'Farke deserves the chance to prove himself in the Premier League. 'I was a big fan of his even when they didn't get promoted last year. He's definitely the man for the job. They came up short last year, but he's done a fantastic job at Leeds and has been rewarded with promotion this season. 'If you look at the Premier League, it's hard to say if any manager will be given a full season because if you're underperforming, the fans will have you. You have to take it one step at a time.' Though he was the toast of the town over Bank Holiday, Farke knows first-hand how quickly things can change. Especially after being sacked by Norwich in 2021 despite months earlier guiding them to a second promotion. And, even though Marathe has publicly backed him, Deane insists they must show their faith in him on the transfer front also. The 57-year-old added: 'The recruitment is key. He'll coach the team as best he can, but if you don't have players good enough for the Premier League, or if your budget's not high enough, that's when you've got a problem. 'I'm sure he'll already have his ideas on how to manage the club in the Premier League. It'll be down to him to sell his ideas to the club. 'The club will be looking at their budget and thinking, 'What are you going to do with our money?' 'And, also, asking how they are going to have a solid platform to move forward. So there's work to be done between them both.'
BBC News
20-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Leeds to keep 'Wortley Wembley' alive
Several former Leeds United stars including Kalvin Phillips, Brian Deane, David Batty, Noel Whelan and Paul Madeley grew-up playing on the famous TV Harrison ground in Wortley in 2022 campaigners trying to save the historic football pitch known as 'Wortley's Wembley' from having houses built upon in it managed to secure it as an "asset of community value". This meant the local community had the first say in what should happen to Deane, the TV Harrison ground is an important part of the city's sporting heritage. "It's got so many iconic memories for a lot of people," he previously told the BBC. "This is where I had my first taste of playing teams outside of Leeds and it really meant something."Whelan added: "Cup finals were played on here. A lot of good players who went on to play for Leeds started here. It's where we developed our skills. This could be a really good opportunity to develop the next superstar of Leeds United."Three years on and there has been even better news. On Wednesday night local Labour MP for Leeds South West and Morley, Mark Sewards, announced that the future of the TV Harrison Sports Ground was assured thanks to the help of Leeds social media he posted: "Leeds United's initial proposal to take over and invest in Wortley's Wembley has been accepted".The deal would see Leeds United take charge of the TV Harrison Football ground for the next 250 years for a price of £50,000. The deal includes a covenant that means the ground can only ever be used for sport and never used for the next six weeks other parties can put their equivalent bid for the ground forward but Leeds United's deal would also see the club invest to make it a better playing facility. United are expected to comment should all the details of their proposal be finalised at the end of that period. Listen to West Yorkshire Sport Daily, weeknights at 18:00, and subscribe to BBC Radio Leeds' Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcast on BBC Sounds
