Snooker: Snooker Body Investigated Over Running of Charity Fund
The Charity Commission is to examine the running of the professional snooker's benevolent fund after significant debts were uncovered. The Charity Commission is examining the running of professional snooker's benevolent fund after it was found to be owed £33,000 by the game's governing body, the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association.
"In our view it appears that the WPBSA is making decisions on the issues of grants and loans which are properly the decisions of the charity's trustees," said a Charity Commission spokesperson. "It also appears there are sums owed by the WPBSA to the benevolent fund which have not been settled and which are carried forward annually."
The commission said it was concerned that "there does not appear to be any clear separation" between the WPBSA and the fund, a registered charity.
In addition, the commission is concerned that a conflict of interests has arisen because two of the fund's three trustees - Sir Dave Richards, chairman of football's Premier League, and Dr Hamish McInnes - are also WPBSA directors.
The commission, which regulates all charities in England and Wales, has written to the benevolent fund's trustees to remind them of their legal obligations to prepare and maintain annual accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 1993, sections 42 and 45. "Although the [benevolent fund] is maintaining internal management accounts and financial records, it has failed to prepare and maintain annual accounts for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 in accordance with its legal requirements," the spokesperson added.
The commission has said these accounts must be submitted within a month and told the trustees they are legally required to prepare an annual report and make accounts publicly available on request. A WPBSA spokesman was "in no position to comment at the present time".
The benevolent fund courted controversy in January when Chris Small, a top-32 player for nine consecutive seasons, was refused financial support after retiring with a degenerative spinal condition. The fund is believed to have paid out up to £35,000 to former players in the past.
If serious mismanagement is found, the commission has powers to remove trustees, freeze bank accounts or put in new trustees.
"In our view it appears that the WPBSA is making decisions on the issues of grants and loans which are properly the decisions of the charity's trustees," said a Charity Commission spokesperson. "It also appears there are sums owed by the WPBSA to the benevolent fund which have not been settled and which are carried forward annually."
The commission said it was concerned that "there does not appear to be any clear separation" between the WPBSA and the fund, a registered charity.
In addition, the commission is concerned that a conflict of interests has arisen because two of the fund's three trustees - Sir Dave Richards, chairman of football's Premier League, and Dr Hamish McInnes - are also WPBSA directors.
The commission, which regulates all charities in England and Wales, has written to the benevolent fund's trustees to remind them of their legal obligations to prepare and maintain annual accounts in accordance with the Charities Act 1993, sections 42 and 45. "Although the [benevolent fund] is maintaining internal management accounts and financial records, it has failed to prepare and maintain annual accounts for the years 2004, 2005 and 2006 in accordance with its legal requirements," the spokesperson added.
The commission has said these accounts must be submitted within a month and told the trustees they are legally required to prepare an annual report and make accounts publicly available on request. A WPBSA spokesman was "in no position to comment at the present time".
The benevolent fund courted controversy in January when Chris Small, a top-32 player for nine consecutive seasons, was refused financial support after retiring with a degenerative spinal condition. The fund is believed to have paid out up to £35,000 to former players in the past.
If serious mismanagement is found, the commission has powers to remove trustees, freeze bank accounts or put in new trustees.
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