Rogue football sponsor Hugh Clarke boasted he would make a big money takeover of an SPFL club. The wannabe football supremo signed up for a series of big sponsorship deals but reneged on many, including deals with Livingston and Falkirk and basketball team Glasgow Rocks.
After Clarke was accused of holding back £1000 in wages to one worker at a chip shop he ran, he sent messages to supposedly prove his wealth. He wrote: “Tried to buy a team in the SPFL – same league as Rangers and Celtic. I will buy a SPFL club between now and 2022. That’s the last to tick off on my bucket list.”
Clarke also sent WhatsApp messages that made him out to be a multi-millionaire during disputes with staff at his firms over unpaid wages. Another message boasted: “I had four pubs when I was 25 with total property of £1,000,000.”
Norman Towson, whose daughter Jill was sacked after complaining about almost £1000 in unpaid wages at the Sizzlers chippie Clarke ran in Airdrie, said he was shocked at the claims made in Clarke’s messages.
He said: “I questioned why he would withhold wages if he had the funds to cover them. My daughter worked hard for him and put in long hours as he was running the place.”
Jill, 23, told the Daily Record yesterday how hard-earned wages went unpaid at Sizzlers after Clarke sent messages to say he was legally justified in holding them back. The latest boasting from Clarke comes after revelations about his many cash fall-outs with business partners and staff.
His Clarke ePOS firm is accused by Livingston FC of failing to pay sponsorship cash. Falkirk FC and basketball team Glasgow Rocks have instigated legal moves to force him to pay.
The Daily Record also told how staff at Clarke ePOS, based at the Eurocentral business park near Holytown, Lanarkshire, had to chase him for wages owed.
Clarke has refused to comment on his cash boasts.
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