THERE have been calls for former Barnsley co-chairman Paul Conway to be banned from football.
The American businessman, along with Chien Lee, have owned a series of European clubs including Barnsley FC previously – with many of them suffering relegation and financial problems.
KV Oostende, who were relegated from the Belgian top tier under Conway, are now in administration with reported debts of more than £8million and bankruptcy possible next month.
The administrator Werner Van Oosterwyck accused Conway of making ‘exuberant and changing demands’ such as selling his shares for a Euro then just over half a million once the takeover was completed – which Conway disputes.
Conway has also been accused of ‘complete mismanagement and financial malpractice’ while various transfers between his clubs have been questioned.
Van Oosterwyck said: “The question is whether this man should not be banned from international football. He plays with clubs as if they are nothing and every emotion is foreign to him."
Danish club Esbjerg were declared insolvent by a bankruptcy court last month while French club AS Nancy suffered back-to-back relegations and Den Bosch dropped out of the Dutch top flight then finished second bottom in the second tier.
Conway also invests in FC Thun in Switzerland and GKS Tychy in Poland.
He is still understood to be a part-owner in Barnsley FC but was removed from the board two years ago along with Lee, while their shares are thought to have since been diluted by investment from the new board.
Conway, Lee and Barnsley FC have been charged by various EFL rule breaches and are awaiting the punishment.
