Former North Gold Coast Seahawks General Manager Kerran Evans has been cleared of stealing as a clerk and servant

A former general manager previously accused of stealing from a Gold Coast sporting club has had the charge against him dropped.

A former general manager previously accused of stealing from a Gold Coast sporting club has had the charge against him dropped.

Kerran Evans was in July 2020 accused of stealing from the North Gold Coast Seahawks basketball association.

He was charged with one count of stealing as a clerk and servant between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019.

On December 15 this year Mr Evans was to face a hearing for the charge in the Southport Magistrates Court

The hearing did not go ahead, with police prosecution offering no evidence and dropping the charge.

There was no reason given as to why the charge was dropped.

July 30, 2020: Former North Gold Coast Seahawks General Manager Kerran Evans has been charged with one count of stealing as a clerk and servant

A FORMER general manager allegedly stole from a Gold Coast sporting association after previously holding the role of treasurer, a court has heard.

Kerran Evans appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday and is expected to stand trial in the coming months after pleading not guilty to allegedly stealing from the North Gold Coast Seahawks basketball association.

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Evans has been charged with one count of stealing as a clerk and servant between January 1 2018 and June 30 2019.

The court heard his alleged actions placed the association into debt, requiring the Seahawks to make arrangements with several creditors and launch an extensive investigation into their new-found financial woes.

A redundancy and financial cutbacks were made to strengthen the association’s financial position moving forward.

Evans assumed the mantle of general manager in May 2017 after previously serving as the association’s treasurer.

He finished his tenure at the association in August 2019 and before the Seahawks, worked as a financial controller for Baseball Australia.

Seahawks president Ben McGrath said the association had moved on and would spend the next few months serving the interests of their members.

North Gold Coast Seahawks president Ben McGrath. Picture: Jerad Williams

“Every single person on our board is resolute of a positive outcome for our association and junior families,” he said.

“Our focus is squarely on our members.

“Moving forward into the future, we are now the seventh largely association in Queensland and are located within one of the fastest growth corridors in Queensland on our doorstep.

“We want to provide the best programs moving forward for our members whether they just want to enjoy their basketball or try and crack the elite level.”

Former NBL Cairns Taipans player Dwayne Vale replaced Evans as general manager in October 2019.

The association was on track for their best financial return earlier this year before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the suspension of community sport.

Junior basketball has now returned to the court and is set to be followed by representative programs and senior Queensland State League basketball in the coming weeks.

“Under Dwayne’s leadership, we’re confident we’re on the right pathway to achieving our goals,” McGrath said.