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Police probe claims of missing football club funds

Posted December 2, 2008 14:31:00

Police in north Queensland are investigating claims that up to $100,000 is missing from a junior sporting group.

Auditors for the Mackay Junior Rugby League have uncovered several accounting discrepancies.

The missing funds were initially discovered after several cheques from the organisation bounced.

The chairman of the Northern Division of Junior Rugby League, Peter Gray, says the discovery is very disappointing and the division will financially support Mackay junior clubs to ensure future seasons.

"Even if that means going and trying to get public support," he said.

"People may say, 'hang on, what's happened is not right, so why should we do it, it might happen again,' and [that's] a fair statement.

"But the future of the seniors is the juniors and there's 2,500 kids running around in Mackay. They love the game obviously and there's a lot of enjoyment there, so we've got to keep it going."

The president of the Mackay Junior Rugby League, Barry Blanchfield, is said to be very upset about the situation. He has been unavailable to comment.

Tags: fraud-and-corporate-crime, clubs-and-associations, mackay-4740

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