Director pleads guilty to theft of thousands of pounds from kids football team

The director of a Southport youth football team has pleaded guilty to the theft of tens of thousands of pounds from the team.

Michelle Marshall and her husband Simon Marshall were accused of the theft of £99,460.38 raised to build new facilities on Russell Road Recreation Ground for Phoenix FC.

Michelle Marshall pleaded guilty to theft, but disputes aspects of the prosecution case. Simon Marshall continues to deny the charges, and will stand trial in January 2022.

Phoenix was awarded £75,000 in 2016 from proceeds of a Merseyside Police fund as well as additional money from the FA and event nights.

Rebecca Smith, defending Michelle Marshall, asked Judge David Potter to consider sentencing ahead of her husband’s trial, so that the family can plan and prepare for what will likely be a custodial sentence.

Following the arrest of the Marshalls in March last year, Michelle Marshall admitted guilt on a private Facebook page, maintaining that Simon Marshall was not involved, and that she had admitted the theft to the police back in November 2020.