Peterborough United charged with breach of EFL regulations relating to the appointment of David Paton as club CEO

Peterborough United has been charged by the EFL for breaching regulations 2.5 & 2.6 of the Owners and Directors’ Test Submission, in respect of the appointment of David Paton to the role of Chief Executive Officer at the Club in January 2022.
By Alan Swann
Published 22nd Sep 2022, 16:00 BST
Updated 22nd Sep 2022, 18:05 BST
David Paton (right).David Paton (right).
David Paton (right).

Mr Paton has been suspended from his role as Chief Executive Officer, pending the conclusion of an EFL investigation into these matters. The club has co-operated fully with the EFL in its investigation. None of the owners of the club, have been charged with any breaches.

Whilst the EFL investigation remains ongoing Leighton Mitchell has been appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Club.

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The club will provide a further update as soon as it is able to do so, once it has had further dialogue with the EFL and its lawyers.

The regulations Posh have allegedly breached concern the ratification of senior appointments by the Football League prior to them beginning their duties and whether or not there is any reason the person appointed should be disqualified from holding their role.

Regulation 2.5 states:

If any person becomes a “relevant person of a club”

- The club shall, no later than ten days prior to them starting work, submit a declaration in respect of that person

- Within five working days of receiving this, the league shall advise the club of the timeframe it expects to complete its enquiries into that person

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- Following the completion of those enquiries, the league shall advise the club whether or not the person is subject to a disqualifying condition

Regulation 2.6 states:

A person may not do anything, and the club may not permit them to do anything that makes them a “relevant person” until the club has received confirmation from the League, that, as far as the league is aware, the person is not subject to any disqualifying condition.

Mr Paton has not been seen at Posh for several months.

Mr Mitchell applied for the Chief Executive Officer post at the same time as Mr Paton and impressed the Posh owners despite failing to land the job.

Mr Mitchell worked at Southampton FC for 20 years and acted as a consultant in rugby union and cricket before joining Posh initially as Operations Manager.

Related topics:EFL