Furious sports clubs are taking legal action after a major sponsor failed to produce the cash. Hugh Clarke, of industrial services firm Clarke ePOS UK Ltd, is accused of welching on deals thought to amount to more than £250,000.
The conduct of the businessman, who supplies card reading systems for payments at stadia, is being investigated by the Scottish Football Association.
Legal action has been launched by Falkirk FC and Glasgow Rocks pro basketball team after Clarke failed to hand over large sums of money.
The Strathclyde Sirens pro netball team also claim to be have been left high and dry by Clarke.
Livingston FC and Ayr-based junior team Whitletts Victoria have also released statements announcing they are cutting all ties with the sponsor, whose name was on team shirts and billboards for the past season.
Premiership clubs Partick Thistle and St Mirren have also been left out of pocket, despite Clarke getting the benefit of advertising at their grounds for more than a season.
It is understood that the clubs all got to the end of their tether after a barrage of excuses, which ultimately led to them having huge holes in their finances.
Glasgow Rocks owner Duncan Smillie, who is also a director of Partick Thistle, said: “This guy, in my experience, has been a charlatan, who gave us so many tall tales and excuses.
“He appeared from nowhere and the next thing we knew he was a major sponsor for a lot of high profile sporting clubs.
“Month after month he was giving us excuses that weren’t much better than ‘the dog ate my homework’.
“We spoke to some other clients of his and it emerged that he was sending the same excuses round. We have cut ties and will seek to retrieve money due to us but I would warn any other businesses to steer clear of dealing with this guy.”
The Daily Record has spoken to several clubs affected, who were either given very few payments or none at all.
Falkirk FC revealed that the club had won a summary decree in court against Clarke Epos Ltd, adding: “The order issued by the Court entitles the club to recover the full amounts claimed, interest on the late payment and the recovery of legal expenses incurred.
“The club is presently waiting for Clarke EPOS to comply with this order and will make no further comment at this time.”
Junior Club Whitletts Victoria also released a statement, saying payment had not been made.
The statement says: “This has left the Club out of pocket by a substantial sum and in order to protect the long term interests of the Club we have had no alternative but to cut short our original two year agreement.”
Premiership club Livingston confirmed they had ended their agreement “with immediate effect and to protect the club’s interests” after sums of around £20,000 went unpaid.
Clarke, 55, last week announced that he had bought West of Scotland League junior side Ardeer Thistle.
He gushed in a local newspaper report last week about his aims of establishing promotions, ground redevelopment, the pursuit of a SFA club licence and, the report states: “winning the hearts and minds of the local community”.
Eight years ago he made a pledge to buy Ayr United. The company connected with a bid for control of the club was Restoraroof & Walls Ltd, which was liquidated in October 2016.
When the Daily Record sought comment from Hugh Clarke at his office in Eurocentral, close to his home in Airdrie, the office was deserted.
He did not return our calls.
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