Wrangle over £100k Academy cash fund
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A RENEWED bid is being made to enable Wick Academy to benefit from a six-figure sum raised in its name, which has been languishing in a bank account for almost a decade.
The pot of over £100,000 is held by Wick Academy Development Fund (WADF) – a secretive charity run by former officials of the Highland League club.
Public concern about how the fund was being run led to a probe by the charities regulator seven years ago, but it did not find any evidence of misconduct.
The controversy has flared up again following a letter written to the John O’Groat Journal by former Academy secretary and WADF official Andrew Carter.
In it he criticises the club for not being prepared to invest in new players and showing a lack of ambition.
That prompted an angry riposte from Scorries fan Dan Mackay, who claims Mr Carter has questions to answer about the current status of WADF, a charity which raised money through a weekly raffle game called "Lucky Letters".
Funding was also sought from public agencies to raise money for future developments at the club.
Mr Mackay yesterday appealed to both sides to put their differences aside and come to an agreement about how the fund, which was set up to further the development of Wick Academy, can do just that.
But representatives of WADF either refused to talk or were not available for comment when we contacted them to discuss what their future plans were.
Meanwhile, the current Wick Academy committee says it never had, nor has any intention, of pursuing the fund, stating it is an independent group not connected with the club.
Mr Mackay, who purchased a lucky letter ticket every week – thinking his money would benefit the club – believes the public has the right to know what the present situation is with the fund which they supported.
"There’ll be a new regime after the next AGM and whatever happens next Academy have to get that money back," he said.
"I think they should call an extraordinary AGM afterwards and come up with a strategy to work with WADF.
"The bottom line is that the fans need to know how much money there is, when WADF intend to give it back to Wick Academy and why this has gone on for so long, when the club is in desperate need for investment to develop."
Mr Mackay adds: "Some people at the club are saying WADF has nothing to do with Wick Academy, but it is our money. What charity can have £100,000 and turn a blind eye?
"I would like to see the issue maturely resolved in the best interests of Wick Academy. I don’t want to fall out with anyone but this elephant in the room has to be resolved once and for all."
WADF was formed as a charity in 2002 with the intention of raising money to move the club from Harmsworth Park to a new stadium at land adjoining Wick High, which would see an enclosed pitch and 500-seat stand, together with a running track, covered training pitch, four changing rooms, a fitness room and conference suite.
In February 2006 WADF announced it had achieved its target of raising in excess of £100,000 from the proceeds of Lucky Letters.
But since former Academy chairman Jacky Gunn was voted out in 2005, the intentions of the WADF have remained unclear.
Enquiries were initiated by the Office of Scottish Charity Regulations (OSCR) in 2004 after an undisclosed number of complaints had been made about the way the fund was being managed. But when investigations were completed in 2007, no evidence was found of any misconduct.
The Caithness Courier contacted Mr Gunn, who established the fund 12 years ago, with the intention of discussing it with him, but he immediately hung up.
An attempt was also made to contact Mr Carter but he was unavailable for comment.
Academy interim chairman Alan Farquhar said he was aware of the situation but pointed out the charity was independent from the club and it had no plans to contact WADF representatives about the money.
He said: "We are aware of WADF but we do not know the full details of the charity. It has nothing to do with us and we can’t comment on something we know nothing about."
