EFL statement - Barnsley FC

Former directors of Barnsley FC Paul Conway & Chien Lee, have been fined for failing
to disclose the full details of their proposed ownership structure, when applying to
acquire the club in 2017.

The fines have been imposed after a full hearing before an Independent Disciplinary
Commission, the commission found that Mr Conway & Mr Lee failed to properly
disclose a private investment they concluded, shortly prior to their purchase of
Barnsley FC in 2017, that agreement was not disclosed to the league until January 2022.

The action follows a previous investigation into matters by the league, which resulted
in the club being charged with various breaches of EFL regulations, said to have been
caused by Mr Conway & Mr Lee, who also received charges.
The club accepted the charges issued against it, & the league entered into an approved
decision on 4th July 2024, with no further action to be taken against the club, other
than contributing to the leagues legal costs of the proceedings.

It was acknowledged that the club co-operated throughout & promptly notified the
league upon its discovery of the investment agreemnt in 2022.

The commission found that it was the actions and/or omissions of Mr Conway & Mr Lee
which caused the club to breach it obligations to the league, alongside the financial
penalties of £100,000 for Mr Conway, & £75,000 for Mr Lee, both were well warned
as to their future conduct.

The sanctions demonstrate the critical importance of the league being provided with
the information, it needs to determine the suitability of owners & directors, as well
as those who seek to control & manage affairs of the club, & the financial viability
of a proposed acquisition.

My tuppence worth -

Hopefully Barnsley FC will now have the right people at the helm, & let the club run
on a even keel, there will always be rogues in any financial business.