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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Shamed football manager keeps job | Shamed football manager keeps job |
| (1 day later) | |
| The manager of Boston United, found guilty of tax fraud but spared jail, will keep his job, the club's chairman has confirmed. | The manager of Boston United, found guilty of tax fraud but spared jail, will keep his job, the club's chairman has confirmed. |
| Manager Steve Evans, 43, was given a 12-month suspended sentence for disguising wages and bonuses as expenses between 1997-2002. | Manager Steve Evans, 43, was given a 12-month suspended sentence for disguising wages and bonuses as expenses between 1997-2002. |
| Chairman of the club Jim Rodwell said Mr Evans had been punished once and deserved a second chance. | Chairman of the club Jim Rodwell said Mr Evans had been punished once and deserved a second chance. |
| But a supporters' association said fans were unhappy about the decision. | But a supporters' association said fans were unhappy about the decision. |
| "We cannot condone the actions of the individuals involved in this court case," said Dale Allitt, chairman of Boston United Supporters' Association. | "We cannot condone the actions of the individuals involved in this court case," said Dale Allitt, chairman of Boston United Supporters' Association. |
| "My job is to convey the thoughts of the working board to the chairman and we have done that to the best of our ability. | "My job is to convey the thoughts of the working board to the chairman and we have done that to the best of our ability. |
| "But obviously the decision regarding management, sackings etc are not up to the working board," he added. | "But obviously the decision regarding management, sackings etc are not up to the working board," he added. |
| Successful scam | Successful scam |
| The five-year tax scam resulted in £323,000 in taxes being withheld and the Pilgrims saw gates swell by 1,000% during the period of the tax fraud. | The five-year tax scam resulted in £323,000 in taxes being withheld and the Pilgrims saw gates swell by 1,000% during the period of the tax fraud. |
| During the trial, the court heard how the club operated a shadowy system of parallel contracts and secret payments which enabled them to recruit the best players which they otherwise would not have been able to afford. | During the trial, the court heard how the club operated a shadowy system of parallel contracts and secret payments which enabled them to recruit the best players which they otherwise would not have been able to afford. |
| I'm telling him [Steve Evans] to go and manage and his future will be judged purely on results Jim Rodwell,Boston United chairman | |
| The club gained promotion to the Football League in 2002 with a squad of players of whom many were being paid inflated wages written into secret contracts. | The club gained promotion to the Football League in 2002 with a squad of players of whom many were being paid inflated wages written into secret contracts. |
| News of the irregularities emerged shortly after Boston won promotion and the FA punished Boston by fining them £100,000 and docking them four league points. Evans was also suspended for 20 months. | News of the irregularities emerged shortly after Boston won promotion and the FA punished Boston by fining them £100,000 and docking them four league points. Evans was also suspended for 20 months. |
| A Football Association spokesman said it would be reviewing the case now it was complete but the association felt both Steve Evans and the club had been dealt with in 2002 when the 20-month ban was imposed and points docked. | |
| Evans was originally appointed manager of Boston United in 1998 after a spell with Stamford AFC, and played professionally for Bolton, Clyde, Ayr and St Johnstone until a knee injury ended his career at the age of 28. | |
| He returned to Boston United as manager in March 2004. | |
| Moving on | Moving on |
| Chairman Jim Rodwell said he hoped fans and the club could move on from the case. | Chairman Jim Rodwell said he hoped fans and the club could move on from the case. |
| "I think Steven has been working under incredibly difficult circumstances and it's been a struggle for him. | "I think Steven has been working under incredibly difficult circumstances and it's been a struggle for him. |
| "I'm on the verge of securing significant investment for Boston United which should unlock one of Steve's hands from behind his back. | "I'm on the verge of securing significant investment for Boston United which should unlock one of Steve's hands from behind his back. |
| "Now I'm telling him to go and manage and his future will be judged purely on results," he said. | "Now I'm telling him to go and manage and his future will be judged purely on results," he said. |
| The Boston United Supporters Trust is urging fans to go to a special meeting in Boston's Utilitarian Chapel on Saturday to make their views clear. | The Boston United Supporters Trust is urging fans to go to a special meeting in Boston's Utilitarian Chapel on Saturday to make their views clear. |
| "We want to hear what they've got to say. They will then give us a clear mandate to approach the club and ask for changes which are clearly needed," said Melvyn Moxon from the trust. | "We want to hear what they've got to say. They will then give us a clear mandate to approach the club and ask for changes which are clearly needed," said Melvyn Moxon from the trust. |