Middlesex recover £100,000 of missing funds but former CEO avoids criminal charges

Middlesex claim they have recovered £100,000 in ¬unauthorised payments made to their former chief executive Richard Goatley, but declined to comment after an eight-month investigation by Metropolitan Police concluded that "no criminal offences could be identified".

Goatley, who continues to deny any wrongdoing, had lodged a personal injury claim against Middlesex in April 2024, claiming that the club had been pursuing a campaign of harassment against him. In 2021, he suffered a stroke during a committee meeting at Lord's in 2021, and had been forced to resign due to ill health.

Middlesex went on to record a loss of £952,000 in 2021, with their net assets shrinking from approximately £2 million to £179,000. In part this was due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, although the club's pensions contributions were also wrongly paid for 12 months, which was claimed to have caused a further £350,000 deficit in their books.

In 2023, under the leadership of Goatley's successor Andrew Cornish, the club was placed into "special measures" by the ECB, having been fined £50,000 for financial irregularities and handed a suspended points deduction.

In May 2024, shortly after his High Court filing, Middlesex reported Goatley to the police, alleging that about £70,000 in unauthorised expenses had been paid into his personal bank account.

In a statement, a Met police spokesperson acknowledged that Middlesex had made allegations of fraud against Goatley, adding that the "nature of the alleged offences were complex and required careful consideration".

"After a thorough and detailed assessment, officers decided on Wednesday 29 January that no criminal offences could be identified," the spokesperson continued. "The case will be reopened should further investigative opportunities become available."

In a statement, Goatley said he had always maintained his innocence, adding that the police's finding were "welcome" and came as "no surprise". He confirmed that he will be continuing his civil claim against Middlesex. The club continues to deny any wrongdoing.

Responding to the developments, Middlesex said they were pleased to confirm the recovery of the missing funds after a "lengthy and challenging process", adding that they comprised £57,000 of cheques paid into Goatley's bank account and a further £43,000 of ineligible payments made into his pension fund.

"We are grateful to the bank and insurance company involved in ensuring that these payments were refunded to the club," the statement continued. "We have no comment to make on the decision that the Metropolitan Police have reached and their reasoning for doing so."