Mike Ashley has threatened directors of Goals Soccer Centres with an attempt of a boardroom coup after they rebuffed his efforts to hire an investigator of his choice.
The tycoon's company, Sports Direct, said in a statement that it was planning to vote against the reappointment of Goals' entire board at its annual general meeting (AGM) next week over an accounting blunder already identified by Goals and now under scrutiny launched by the East Kilbride firm.
Mr Ashley has demanded that independent advisers at Kroll be appointed to look into the accounting errors, which are estimated to be worth £12 million.
Goals, however, said this week that it was continuing talks with HMRC over the error and had engaged "forensic accountants" to examine the issue.
READ MORE: Former Murray chief McGill lands role at troubled Goals
A former finance chief of Sir David Murray was drafted in by Goals this week also, with Mike McGill, a former finance boss at Murray International Holdings and Baxters Food Group, been appointed interim chief finance officer as discussions continue with HMRC regarding the potential misdeclaration of VAT.
Sports Direct, which owns an 18.9 per cent stake in Goals, responded by claiming that the appointed advisers are not independent, being a division of the company's auditors.
Goals confirmed earlier this week that it has hired advisory firm Deloitte to assess future options, which led to speculation over the potential sale of the listed firm.
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