Councillor 'threatened with police action' in row over £80,000 TNS football grant

Liberal Democrat leader Roger Evans has been calling for answers and information surrounding a grant that was handed to The New Saints FC in Oswestry to increase seating for European games.

The grant was called into question recently, after it was revealed there was an agreement to pay back to the money but that only £10,000 has been paid back.

A private session at Shropshire Council recently discussed the matter, with no information released to the public.

Now Councillor Evans has been asking for answers. He wants information released to the public but he has received an email from the council threatening police action.

The email, which came from a senior officer, stated if any exempt information is released then the police will be called.

Councillor Evans was baffled by the email and is still calling for information to be made public.

He said: "They have said there is no fraud involved, so I can't see any reason why they need to say police action will be taken.

"I read my questions out at a recent meeting. Then I had this email and I don't know why I have had it. There is just a total lack of transparency, and we need to be transparent, the council needs to be transparent.

"They have said I can see the exempt information, but I don't want to be accused of leaking things. They should be published for councillors and the public to see."

TNS has always insisted it fulfilled its commitment in the agreement.

Now the finger is pointed at Shropshire Council as to why the grant money hasn't been paid back, and why discussions are taking place behind closed doors.

Mr Evans added: "If someone hadn't paid their council tax, the council would be on them. But with this, it has taken six years for them to even contemplate taking any action."