Former football boss denies theft

The former chairman of a West Sussex football club has pleaded not guilty to stealing �1.4m and cheating the taxman.

Millionaire businessman and former boss of Crawley Town FC, Azwar Majeed, 32, of North Street, Brighton, denied eight charges at Southwark Crown Court.

The charges include four thefts involving "credit balances" totalling �1,436,700 and concealing criminal property of �505,505.

He was remanded on bail to await a six-week trial due to begin on 2 February.

Mr Majeed is also accused of failing to keep sufficient accounting records for S A Retail Ltd and failing to account properly for income and national gains tax and national insurance between 1 April 2003 and 31 January this year.

He is also charged with perverting the course of justice between 19 February and 6 March this year in connection with the transfer of �741,675 while subject to a crown court restraint order.