Former football boss admits fraud

The former Stranraer FC chairman admitted one charge

A former Scottish football club chairman has admitted a charge of trying to defraud them of £1,000.

James Bark, 59, committed the offence in Stranraer Football Club's anniversary draw in 2006.

Not guilty pleas to five other charges of embezzlement were accepted by the Crown at Kirkcudbright Sheriff Court.

Sheriff Kenneth Hogg said this type of conduct compromised the integrity of the draw and the club itself. The case was continued to 17 April.

Bark, of Greenfield Row, Stranraer, admitted pretending the anniversary draw had been won by a man called Hugh Brown from Paisley.

This type of conduct compromises the integrity of the draw and the whole football club Sheriff Kenneth Hogg

He entered a ticket after the draw had been made in an attempt to induce representatives of the club to pay him £1,000 in prize money.

A second accused, David McCurdy, 52, of Bonhill Road, Dumbarton, had a not guilty plea to a charge of pretending to be Hugh Brown and claiming he had been paid £1,000 by Bark, accepted by the Crown.

Sheriff Hogg called for social inquiry and community service reports.

"This type of conduct compromises the integrity of the draw and the whole football club," he said.

"People who pay for tickets have to rely that it is being run genuinely.

"Compromising this trust makes it a very serious issue."