Sports boss fights assets freeze

THE publisher of a sports magazine group where Newcastle United manager Bobby Robson is a director and shareholder is challenging a worldwide freeze on his assets.

Graham Gutteridge, the former chairman of Alternative Investment Market listed Non League Media faces allegations of misappropriating company money.

Keith Oliver, a partner at law firm Peters & Peters, said last night: 'We are taking steps to secure the earliest possible restoration of funds.'

Gutteridge is accused of moving £272,000 from NLM to his private sports management company Eye. It is alleged that in a series of transactions the funds were then transferred to GMG Management, another company in which Gutteridge had an interest. From there it is claimed that they were moved into a solicitor's account in the name of Gutteridge's wife Sariah Smalley.

Peters & Peters claims the money was used to help buy a house in Acton, West London. The law firm is acting for Bracken Partners, a firm of venture capitalists, who loaned money to Eye. Bracken chairman Barry Gold is a non- executive director of NLM.

A High Court judge has granted an injunction freezing up to £1.2m of Gutteridge's assets. Dealings in NLM are suspended.