Current Plymouth chairman Peter Ridsdale is facing a fraud charge brought by Cardiff Trading Standards.
Ridsdale was Cardiff's chairman when they ran a 'Golden Ticket' scheme to sell season tickets early, with the club promising to invest the income in squad strengthening and refund the money if the club won promotion. No investment in the squad was made, leaving a large number of Bluebirds fans disgruntled.
Now Trading Standards has brought three charges against Ridsdale. Two of them are under comsumer protection laws, with the third coming under the Fraud Act. The charge reads:
Committed fraud in that you dishonestly made a false representation, namely the sale of season tickets intending to make a gain, namely using revenue to purchase new players, contrary to Sections 1 and 2 of the Fraud Act 2006.
Ridsdale has denied the charges with the hearing adjourned until July 22nd for a committal hearing. Trading Standards want the trial to be held at Crown Court, where the maximum sentence would be 10 years rather than the 12 months that could be issued at a Magistrates Court.
Meanwhile, Hartlepool have announced ambitious plans to sell adult season tickets for £100 next season. The plan will see fans place a £100 deposit with the club. Should the club get 4,000 people to sign up then the £100 offer would kick in, while if only 3,000 sign up the deal would be £200. Anything under 3,000 and prices will revert to last season's costs.