THE chief executive of Goals Soccer Centres is to quit the firm to head the British Olympic Association.
Andy Anson is leaving the East Kilbride-based firm after a year to take on the chief executive’s role at BOA.
The firm said it was disappointed by the move but added former Disney and Manchester United executive Mr Anson has committed to remain on the company’s board for the next six months to assist in resolving accounting issues that it announced in March.
Its shares were suspended at its request at that stage over accounting errors worth roughly £12 million.
READ MORE: Football firm reveals £12m accounts errors
Goals uncovered “substantial” VAT misdeclaration issues, which it said dated back several years.
The final value of the error is still being established and the blunder may lead to a “material change in its overall financial position”, it said.
Goals, whose biggest shareholder is retail tycoon Mike Ashley, currently trades from 50 sites in the UK and US.
Despite the accounting problems, Goals sought to assure investors that recent trading had continued to be strong in the UK and US in its latest trading update.
READ MORE: Football firm requests shares trading suspension
Michael Bolingbroke, chairman of Goals, said: “Whilst Andy’s decision is disappointing, particularly at this challenging time for the company, the board respects Andy’s decision to take a role that is a once in a lifetime opportunity for him.
“We are very grateful for all that he has done for Goals and are pleased that he will continue to fully support the company to secure the best outcome in the discussions with our auditors and HMRC.”
Mr Anson is already a non-executive director of the BOA, having sat on its board since 2011. His appointment follows the departure of current chief Bill Sweeney, who left the organisation in February to become chief executive of the Rugby Football Union.
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