Five deny football club fraud allegations

The former chairman of Northampton Town Football Club (NTFC) has pleaded not guilty to offences connected to the development of its stadium.

David Cardoza has denied fraud by false representation along with his father Anthony.

Three other men, Howard Grossman and his son Marcus, and Simon Patnick, also denied the same charge at Southwark Crown Court.

Their trial is due to start in 2028.The BBC successfully applied to get reporting restrictions on the case lifted.

The five are accused of conspiring to commit fraud by making false representations to officers and employees of Northampton Borough Council.

Specifically, the assertion that money loaned by the council to redevelop parts of NTFC's Sixfields stadium would be used for the sole purpose of the development.

It is alleged the representations "were and which they knew were untrue or misleading and, intending to make a gain for themselves".

The offences are alleged to have taken place between September 2013 and April 2015.

The borough council has since been dissolved and replaced with West Northamptonshire Council.

David Cardoza, 55, of Eastbourne, East Sussex, is also accused of fraud by abuse of position, relating to his time as a director of NTFC.

Anthony Cardoza, 81, of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, is charged with the same offence.

Both men deny the accusations.

Howard Grossman, 64, of Bushey in Hertfordshire, also pleaded not guilty to eight charges in relation to alleged VAT offences.

Mr Patnick, 55, is from Stanmore, north-west London, and Marcus Grossman, aged 38, resides in Barnet, north London.

All five men were given bail. The case will come before the court again on 27 February.

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