Peter Ridsdale Banned from Being a Company Director for Seven Years

Mr Ridsdale, 60, of Carnforth, Lancashire, has given an undertaking to the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) barring him from acting 
as a company director, and from managing or in any way controlling a company, from 19 October 2012 to 18 April 2020, due to his conduct as a director of W H Sports Group Limited (WHSG).

Sophie Victoria Ridsdale, 45, Mr Ridsdale’s wife and co-director of WHSG, has also been disqualified after providing a similar undertaking which will run for three-and-a-half years from 19 October 2012 to 18 April 2016.

Investigators found that WHSG traded from 2003 to 2007 and was used by Mr Ridsdale to provide sports and leisure consultancy services to football clubs.

The company went into liquidation on 22 April 2009 with assets of £22,592 and liabilities of at least £478,698, including £442,353 owed to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

In a statement, the Insolvency Service said: “Between May 2007 and March 2009, he (Ridsdale) acted improperly and in breach of his duties to WHSG by causing payments totalling £347,000, received for invoices raised by WHSG for services provided to a football club of which he was the Chairman, to be paid into personal bank accounts held in his own name, to the detriment of WHSG and its creditors.”

Commenting on Mr Ridsdale’s ban, Claire Entwistle, Director of Company Investigations North at The Insolvency Service, said: “As someone who has had many directorships, Mr Ridsdale ought to be aware of the responsibilities that come with such a position.”