Manchester City urged to cut ties with footballer Natasha Harding | Global News Avenue

Manchester City Football Club have been urged to part ways with footballer Natasha Harding as she faces accusations of taking thousands of pounds from teammates, parents and businesses without repaying them.

The former Wales international, who now goes by her married name of Ellen Wyatt, appears regularly as a pundit and commentator on Manchester City’s women’s matches.

She faces accusations that she received money for one-on-one tutoring with children she did not have.

Ms Allen-Wyatt said she had had to cancel “a number of meetings” due to circumstances beyond her control and apologized to those affected.

since The BBC reports on the allegations from parents, teammates and businesses A number of other people who sponsor Tash Harding Academy have also contacted them claiming they too have lost money.

The BBC understands reports have been received by a number of police forces in Wales and England, some of which have also been passed on to Operation Fraud.

Action Fraud said the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau was “currently assessing” at least one report.

The BBC understands that although Ms Allen-Wyatt is not a direct employee of the club, she has until recently worked for the club on a freelance basis.

She last appeared as a pundit on City’s live matchday program on November 8, alongside former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley, now Manchester City’s Manager of the Women’s Football Club Academy.

The club website also said she commented on the Women’s Super League (WSL) match between Manchester City and Chelsea on November 16.

Ms Ellen Wyatt has 103 caps for Wales and also played for Manchester City in 2015 before moving to Liverpool, Reading and Aston Villa.

Manchester City Football Club has been contacted for comment.

Steve Lloyd, chairman of a grassroots club which claims to have lost £650 after investing in Tash Harding Academy earlier this year, said he believed the club There was a “moral and ethical responsibility” to sever ties with Ms Ellen Wyatt.

He praised Manchester City, whose women’s team currently ranks second in the Women’s Football League behind Chelsea, as “a great supporter of women’s football and the women’s game”.

But he said he felt they needed to speak out.

“In order to gain the exposure that City have given (Ms Allen-Wyatt), I think they have a moral and ethical obligation to prevent her from freelancing,” he said.

He added that he believed they should “stand up and support those making these accusations rather than sweep them under the rug”.

Dreigiau Dâr FC in Aberdare is run by volunteers and aims to provide free tutoring to children from all backgrounds.

They said they paid Ms Allen-Wyatt £650 in exchange for 20 per cent of profits from the academy and 12 coaching sessions at the club.

Only two sessions were held and the club made no profit from the academy.

Steve and another parent also paid for multiple one-on-one tutoring sessions for their children, but only partially. They said they have requested a refund but have not yet received any.

Steve’s 10-year-old daughter Eliza said she had hoped to one day play for Wales but was left “sad” when the course failed to materialize.

Speaking on Radio Wales’ breakfast show on Thursday, Steve said: “As we all know, there are many more parents, companies and other individuals now suffering the same heartache.

“Ideally, in the grand scheme of things, it would be great if everyone could get their hard-earned money back, but it’s going to be a long and difficult process.”

Ms Allen-Wyatt has not responded to the allegations made by her former teammates or the business.

She said reasons for cancellations included “my car was totaled and the second car broke down” and refunds had been paid to some parents and agreed with others.

She said she founded the academy to provide low-cost “detailed technical tutoring” and give children “opportunities that I never had”.

She said she still runs it and “offers local meetings.”