CARMARTHEN Town have parted company with long serving manager Mark Aizlewood after he was found guilty of fraud at Southwark Crown Court in London.
Aizlewood, who has been manager of Carmarthen since 2012, was found to have scammed £5m from schools and colleges.
The 57-year-old, along with three others, used a bogus sports leadership scheme through their firm, Luis Michael Training Ltd, and promised thousands of students they would help them gain an NVQ in activity leadership.
They also offered full-time training in football coaching but a number of students on their books did not exist.
On Monday, Aizlewood and another man, Paul Surgue, were both found guilty of the offence of conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
Aizlewood was acquitted of another similar charge while Surgue was found guilty of a second charge of fraud against him.
The pair, along with two other directors, also gave false accounts to colleges in order to try and persuade them to do business with them.
Carmarthen Town said in a statement that they were not aware of Aizlewood’s activities and nor were they involved in the investigations.
Aizlewood had denied the charges stating he would not have had time to commit such a fraud whilst his late wife’s health deteriorated before her suicide in June 2017.
The court was adjourned and Aizlewood will be sentenced on February 26.
A spokesperson for Carmarthen Town said: “With Mark Aizlewood being found guilty, his contract with Carmarthen Town will be terminated.
“As a club, we wish to thank him for his work on the field of play.
“Carmarthen Town also wish to emphasise that the club were not aware of his activities and were not part of the enquiry.”
Carmarthen Town have not had the best of seasons on the pitch and currently find themselves second from bottom in the Welsh Premier League table.
Aizlewood did lead them to victory against Prestatyn on Saturday (Feb 3) but his sacking, at a crucial time in the season, will not help the squad.
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