Football Trade Directory

Former Sports retail boss on trial for fraud



Chris Ronnie, who was chief executive of JJB Sports between August 2007 and March 2009 is charged with three counts of fraud relating to a failure to disclose interests in contracts entered into by the organization, two funds laundering offences and two offences of furnishing false information.

The case at Southwark Crown Court is anticipated to last up to eight weeks and will involve a string of figures from the sportswear industry getting called as witnesses, which includes the former finance director of Sports Direct.

Mr Ronnie will stand trial alongside David Ball and David Barrington.

Mr Ball is an accountant and owner of a supplier to JJB, Style & Sport Restricted. He is charged with 3 offences of furnishing false information and facts and two counts of perverting the course of justice. Mr Barrington, his business enterprise companion, is charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice.

Mr Ronnie was initially charged in 2012, but the court hearing has been delayed over a dispute concerning the legality of the SFO actions.

JJB collapsed into administration in 2012 with the loss of far more than three 3,000 jobs.

Rivals, Sports Direct bought 20 of the very best-performing JJB stores, and the warehouse and offices in Wigan..

JJB was founded by Wigan Chairman, Dave Whelan in 1971 and traded on the high street for 40 years just before its collapse. By the time of its collapse Whelan was not involved in running the business.

KN

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