Scunthorpe United owner Peter Swann has categorically denied using the club’s finances for historic betting activity, following the news that he is currently in the midst of legal proceedings against Apollo Bookmakers Limited in the High Court.
In court documents published by football finance expert Kieran Maguire, Swann claims he was encouraged to gamble beyond his means by Apollo who received £3.8million from Swann during a three year period between 2015-2018.
He is estimated to have wagered £20million on various sporting events.
Swann has stated he did not place any bets on football, which is prohibited by the Football Association.
The following statement was published on the club’s official website in response to court documents being published by football finance expert Kieran Maguire on Twitter.
“I have seen that Kieran Maguire has published and made reference to legal proceedings, being pursued in the High Court of Justice, London Circuit Commercial Court, under claim number QB-2020-000217, which have been brought by me against Apollo Bookmakers Limited.
The events forming part of the dispute in said proceedings were some five years ago, and were entirely and categorically unconnected with the finances of Scunthorpe United Football Club and/or the companies which are involved in the running of the football club.
Monies which I gambled on various sports (I did not gamble on football) were all my own personal money, and the proceedings were brought because I felt (and still feel) that I needed to take an important stand against a company that I believe exploited and took advantage of me, during a very difficult time in my life.”
