Clem Morfuni

In 2021, Morfuni became the majority owner of English side [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]].{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/meet-the-sydney-plumber-who-saved-an-english-soccer-club-from-oblivion-20210915-p58rwp.html|title=Meet the Sydney plumber who saved an English soccer club from oblivion|date=17 September 2021 |publisher=smh.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com.au/covers/investing/why-winning-sometimes-comes-second/|title=The Aussie plumber who bought a UK football team|work=forbes.com|date=19 September 2022 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clem-morfuni-the-sydney-plumber-giving-swindon-town-reasons-to-smile-pftfxc9ks|title=Clem Morfuni: The Sydney plumber giving Swindon Town reasons to smile|publisher=thetimes.co.uk (Archived)|access-date=2023-09-08|archive-date=2023-03-31|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230331001814/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clem-morfuni-the-sydney-plumber-giving-swindon-town-reasons-to-smile-pftfxc9ks|url-status=bot: unknown}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/im-passionate-meet-the-cashed-up-sydney-plumber-who-bought-swindon-town-590999|title='I'M PASSIONATE': MEET THE CASHED-UP SYDNEY PLUMBER WHO BOUGHT SWINDON TOWN|publisher=ftbl.com.au}}

In 2021, Morfuni became the majority owner of English side [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]].{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/meet-the-sydney-plumber-who-saved-an-english-soccer-club-from-oblivion-20210915-p58rwp.html|title=Meet the Sydney plumber who saved an English soccer club from oblivion|date=17 September 2021 |publisher=smh.com.au}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com.au/covers/investing/why-winning-sometimes-comes-second/|title=The Aussie plumber who bought a UK football team|work=forbes.com|date=19 September 2022 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clem-morfuni-the-sydney-plumber-giving-swindon-town-reasons-to-smile-pftfxc9ks|title=Clem Morfuni: The Sydney plumber giving Swindon Town reasons to smile|publisher=thetimes.co.uk (Archived)|access-date=2023-09-08|archive-date=2023-03-31|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230331001814/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clem-morfuni-the-sydney-plumber-giving-swindon-town-reasons-to-smile-pftfxc9ks|url-status=bot: unknown}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.ftbl.com.au/news/im-passionate-meet-the-cashed-up-sydney-plumber-who-bought-swindon-town-590999|title='I'M PASSIONATE': MEET THE CASHED-UP SYDNEY PLUMBER WHO BOUGHT SWINDON TOWN|publisher=ftbl.com.au}}

In August 2023, Mr Morfuni was accused by the [[Swindon Advertiser]] of transferring shares of the football club to two other individuals.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-17 |title=Questions over ownership of Town as shares appear to be 'transferred' |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23729742.questions-ownership-town-transferred-shares/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en}} CEO Rob Angus read out a prepared statement at the club's fan forum stating: "We were made aware this morning via Companies House that there was a confirmation statement update on the ownership structure of Axis Football Investments Limited of Swindon Town Football Club."{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In August 2023, Morfuni was accused by the ''[[Swindon Advertiser]]'' of transferring shares of the football club to two other individuals.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-17 |title=Questions over ownership of Town as shares appear to be 'transferred' |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23729742.questions-ownership-town-transferred-shares/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en}} CEO Rob Angus read out a prepared statement at the club's fan forum stating: "We were made aware this morning via Companies House that there was a confirmation statement update on the ownership structure of Axis Football Investments Limited of Swindon Town Football Club."{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Mr Morfuni later admitted that he did not own 100% of the club and had transferred shares as part of an agreement with regards to the club's debt with previous owner Lee Power.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-17 |title=Clem Morfuni comes clean on hidden debt that forced handing over STFC shares |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23730721.clem-morfuni-surprise-debt-forced-handing-stfc-shares/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en}} In September 2023, the EFL opened an investigation into issues surrounding the club's ownership.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-22 |title=Swindon Town face possible fine as EFL investigate 'various matters' |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23788046.swindon-town-face-possible-fine-efl-investigate-various-matters/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en}}

Morfuni later admitted that he did not own 100% of the club and had transferred shares as part of an agreement with regards to the club's debt with previous owner Lee Power.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-17 |title=Clem Morfuni comes clean on hidden debt that forced handing over STFC shares |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23730721.clem-morfuni-surprise-debt-forced-handing-stfc-shares/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en}} In September 2023, the EFL opened an investigation into issues surrounding the club's ownership.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-22 |title=Swindon Town face possible fine as EFL investigate 'various matters' |url=https://www.swindonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/23788046.swindon-town-face-possible-fine-efl-investigate-various-matters/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=Swindon Advertiser |language=en}}

In November 2023, Morfuni issued a statement{{Cite web |title=Club Statement: An update from Clem Morfuni |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/november/club-statement-an-update-from--clem-morfuni/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.swindontownfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}} rejecting some elements of a report by sports journalist [[Ryan Whelan]].{{Cite web |last=Whelan |first=Ryan |date=2023-11-04 |title=Exclusive: Update On Swindon Town Wages & Ownership |url=https://looksports.media/exclusive-update-on-swindon-town-wages-ownership/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=Look Sports Media |language=en-GB}} The report claimed that the club had been placed up for sale and some staff members hadn't been paid on time. Mr Morfuni admitted that revenue wasn't enough to cover costs, so a cash injection was needed, as detailed in the report by Whelan. It was also stated by Morfuni that "entertaining" of offers to purchase the club does not mean it is for sale. The [[Swindon Town Supporters Trust]] issued a statement claiming they had received similar information to Whelan but had been unable to verify it. They called on Mr Morfuni to allow them access to financial records which had been promised at a previous meeting.{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=James |date=2023-11-07 |title=TrustSTFC Update – November 2023 – TrustSTFC |url=https://truststfc.com/2023/11/07/truststfc-update-november-2023/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-07 |title=Possible buyers for Swindon Town 'investigated' by fans' group |url=https://uk.style.yahoo.com/possible-buyers-swindon-town-investigated-152000225.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=uk.style.yahoo.com |language=en-GB}} An interview was then published in [[Forbes Australia]] reiterating what was said in the statement whilst claiming Mr Whelan was "taking a swipe" at him whilst recalling a conversation with Look Sports Media over the story.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Aussie plumber who bought a UK football team dispels finance rumours |url=https://www.forbes.com.au/life/lifestyle/swindon-town-fc-is-not-for-sale-says-aussie-plumber/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=Forbes Australia |language=en-US}} This conversation has been refuted by the publication and journalist.{{Cite web |title=Said to "them" Checks emails, phone log, the right to reply messages .... carrier pigeon cages Sorry who did you say this to? |url=https://twitter.com/RyanJWhelan/status/1722555819026153533?s=19 |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}} {{better source|date=March 2024}}

In November 2023, Morfuni issued a statement{{Cite web |title=Club Statement: An update from Clem Morfuni |url=https://www.swindontownfc.co.uk/news/2023/november/club-statement-an-update-from--clem-morfuni/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=www.swindontownfc.co.uk |language=en-gb}} rejecting some elements of a report by sports journalist [[Ryan Whelan]].{{Cite web |last=Whelan |first=Ryan |date=2023-11-04 |title=Exclusive: Update On Swindon Town Wages & Ownership |url=https://looksports.media/exclusive-update-on-swindon-town-wages-ownership/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=Look Sports Media |language=en-GB}} The report claimed that the club had been placed up for sale and some staff members hadn't been paid on time. Morfuni admitted that revenue wasn't enough to cover costs, so a cash injection was needed, as detailed in the report by Whelan. It was also stated by Morfuni that "entertaining" of offers to purchase the club does not mean it is for sale. The [[Swindon Town Supporters Trust]] issued a statement claiming they had received similar information to Whelan but had been unable to verify it. They called on Morfuni to allow them access to financial records which had been promised at a previous meeting.{{Cite web |last=Spencer |first=James |date=2023-11-07 |title=TrustSTFC Update – November 2023 – TrustSTFC |url=https://truststfc.com/2023/11/07/truststfc-update-november-2023/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-11-07 |title=Possible buyers for Swindon Town 'investigated' by fans' group |url=https://uk.style.yahoo.com/possible-buyers-swindon-town-investigated-152000225.html |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=uk.style.yahoo.com |language=en-GB}} An interview was then published in [[Forbes Australia]] reiterating what was said in the statement whilst claiming Whelan was "taking a swipe" at him whilst recalling a conversation with Look Sports Media over the story.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Aussie plumber who bought a UK football team dispels finance rumours |url=https://www.forbes.com.au/life/lifestyle/swindon-town-fc-is-not-for-sale-says-aussie-plumber/ |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=Forbes Australia |language=en-US}} This conversation has been refuted by the publication and journalist.{{Cite web |title=Said to "them" Checks emails, phone log, the right to reply messages .... carrier pigeon cages Sorry who did you say this to? |url=https://twitter.com/RyanJWhelan/status/1722555819026153533?s=19 |access-date=2023-11-14 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}} {{better source|date=March 2024}}

==See also==

==See also==