More than $100,000 vanishes from West Adelaide Football Club - but police aren't called in to investigate

WEST Adelaide footy club has been plunged into scandal after more than $100,000 mysteriously vanished — and the club decided not to alert the police.

WEST Adelaide Football Club has been plunged into scandal after the mysterious disappearance of more than $100,000 — which the club has secretly tried to recoup without going to the police.

Sources within the club’s Richmond headquarters say that a recent internal audit revealed that thousands of dollars was missing and may have been misappropriated by a former employee.

There are varying estimates within football circles as to exactly how much cash went missing from the club, with some sources saying it was as high as $150,000.

There are also differences among club figures as to whether every cent of the missing money — much of it donated by blue-collar fans — has actually been accounted for.

While some sources say the money has all been recouped, others say that with no forensic accounting or police involvement the club cannot be sure.

Extreme sensitivities surround the case, which the club has tried to deal with internally.

The Bloods board will meet next Monday to continue discussions but is understood to be against pushing for criminal charges against the ex-staffer.

The club — which has spent much of this season rallying fans’ support because of extreme financial hardship — may report the matter but ask that police not investigate it.

There is also speculation in footy circles about the mysterious unsolved theft from the Richmond clubrooms last year of a 150kg club safe containing $30,000 in cash.

The exact time frame during which the money disappeared is unclear.

However, it is understood to have fallen within former chief executive Kym Russell’s time in charge of the club.

Mr Russell took up the position of CEO in January 2009 and tendered his resignation in September of this year. The club issued a statement at the time thanking him for his contribution.

He could not be contacted for comment on Saturday.

Club president Richard Sykes declined to make any comment on the matter on the matter, and the club is yet to put out a statement to its members.

SANFL executive commissioner Leigh Whicker said the league had not been in contact with West Adelaide and he did not know enough detail to comment specifically.

“We’ve heard some rumours but they have not been brought to the attention of the league (by West Adelaide), or substantiated,’’ Mr Whicker said.

Mr Whicker said the SANFL was unlikely to involve itself in the issue but added West’s board had a responsibility to handle the matter in a way which was acceptable to club members.

“The boards of clubs are no different to directors of any private or public company,’’ he said.

“They have due diligence or directors’ responsibilities to administer their club.

“The directors have due responsibility to take whatever action they deem necessary on behalf of their members.”

SANFL general manager Chris Davies was on annual leave and was out of the country last week.

A source within West Adelaide said “every dollar” that had gone missing was now recovered. However, another source close to the club questioned whether the matter had been subjected to a detailed enough investigation.

Just months ago, West Adelaide was rallying fans to support it ';lamid hard financial times.

In February, the club put out a public plea to its fans to become members and attend home games following a $505,027 loss in 2012.

This was on the back of a $139,884 deficit in 2011 and $81,653 in 2009.

In August, the club received a “winding up” notice from one of its liquor suppliers over unpaid debts, while, earlier this year, it was forced to sell five poker machines to raise about $220,000.

Football department spending was slashed this season with a development role cut, and former league coach Andrew Collins’ salary reportedly reduced.

Mr Collins, who is now coaching Williamstown in the VFL, is in no way linked to any money going missing from West Adelaide. He declined to comment on the matter.

Former Bloods player and Woodville-West Torrens chief executive John Kantilaftas has been appointed the club’s new chief executive and will start work in January.