Source: Daily_Mail
Storrie wanted preferential treatment for agent involved in tax case defence
Deposed Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie tried to push agent Willie McKay to the front of the club's queue of creditors because he needed him for his defence against charges of tax evasion.[LNB] And Storrie's lucrative contract, which earned him more than £1.2million according to the club's last accounts, included bonuses whenever the team won or drew a competitive match.[LNB] End of the road: Peter Storrie (right) has stepped down[LNB] Storrie stepped down after eight years in charge at Fratton Park on Friday, with many fans blaming him for Portsmouth becoming the first Premier League club to go into administration.[LNB] He is being retained by the club as a consultant at the end of a week when Portsmouth made 85 people redundant. But the latest revelations will raise further questions about his time at the club.[LNB] The size of the commission cashstrapped Portsmouth had agreed to pay McKay for the season-long loan signing of Frederic Piquionne from Lyon - £150,000 plus VAT on a loan fee of 500,000 euros - is staggering enough. [LNB]But the fact that Storrie asked for McKay to be given preferential treatment for personal reasons at a time when the club were in financial meltdown will shock Portsmouth's fans, even though his request was not granted. [LNB]Storrie was charged with 'cheating the public revenue' on November 4 last year in connection with a £250,000 signing-on fee allegedly paid to Amdy Faye in 2003 through McKay. Storrie denies the charge. Two days earlier, he had sent a fax to Danny Azougy, the convicted fraudster then overseeing Portsmouth's finances, with a heading 'Agents Fee Payment Willie McKay'.[LNB] In the fax Storrie said: 'Can you look to approve this for payment as this man will be my chief defence witness if I have to go to court on this City of London Police Revenue charge matter.'[LNB] What's the Storrie?: Many fans blame him for Portsmouth becoming the first Premier League club to go intoadministration[LNB] He added that McKay would knock £10,000 off the second £75,000 instalment due on January 31 if the first sum was paid immediately and the rest by the end of November. In a separate document the following day, November 3, Storrie confirmed that he wanted £86,250 (£75,000 plus £11,250 of VAT) to be paid to McKay, adding: 'I have him on my case for payment at the moment and as he will be my chief witness, I would rather keep him happy.'[LNB] When first asked about his attempt to give McKay special treatment, Storrie told The Mail on Sunday by text message: 'Load of rubbish, willie and danny were sorting and talking together and he is not a witness in my case ask the lawyers.' [LNB]But when told there was documentary evidence and asked to provide contact details for his lawyers, he appeared to confirm he had made the request, saying: 'Only because he was due and Danny was going to pay all agents! I am leaving as I am sick of you lot so just leave me alone...leave me in piece [sic].' [LNB]When told about the allegation, joint administrator Andrew Andronikou said: 'I will be disappointed if that is the case.'[LNB] It is understood that McKay was not paid, despite Storrie's request, and that he has joined the long list of creditors, including the taxman, clubs at home and abroad and a number of other agents.[LNB] The Mail on Sunday has also seen an unsigned copy of what appears to be an employment contract between Portsmouth and Storrie drawn up to run for four years from July 2007. In addition to a basic salary of £450,000 per year, the document mentions a number of additional benefits, including private health care, a generous pension and a bonus schedule.[LNB] As well as an unspecified bonus payable yearly or half-yearly 'at the absolute discretion of the Principal and the Board', the contract says: 'The CEO shall be entitled to receive the first team win and draw bonus on league and cup matches.'[LNB] The bonuses and other benefits Storrie enjoyed led to him becoming one of the highest-paid officials in the Premier League, despite Portsmouth having one of the lowest turnovers. In the season before the 2007 contract was drawn up, Storrie's remuneration more than doubled from £327,345 to £878,375, despite the club's operational losses rising from £3.7m to £21.3m. The following season, when the new contract would have come into force and when Portsmouth won the FA Cup, Storrie collected £1,232,290, a 40 per cent rise despite further losses of £21.6m.[LNB] Portsmouth's accounts for the 2008- 09 season, during which the scale of the financial crisis began to emerge, are overdue.[LNB] Defending Storrie's on-going role as a consultant at Portsmouth, Andronikou said: 'Peter brings a lot of experience and information which we need to absorb. We can hardly step into his shoes overnight.'[LNB] Andronikou confirmed that he would be looking more deeply into past transactions at the club, including the movement of money from Portsmouth's client account at Fuglers solicitors.[LNB] Former Portsmouth director Mark Jacob, who left Fuglers earlier this month and was relieved of his board duties last week, declined to comment.[LNB] Andronikou added that one consortium interested in buying the club out of administration was considerably ahead of other parties, but he anticipated other firm offers. It is believed the leading bid comes from a group led by three men, from Malaysia, India and Europe respectively, who have the backing of leading South African financial institution. [LNB] Ex-Pompey chief Storrie forced to deny allegations over agent paymentEx-Pompey defender Tosic free to play for another Premier League clubIf Tottenham won't have me I'm sure someone else will, says O'Hara[LNB] [LNB]
