The Charity Commission has opened statutory inquiries into two football clubs for failing to submit and follow correct practice when supplying accounts for two years.

In July 2022, Walsall Wood Community Football Club was entered into the regulator’s “double defaulter” class inquiry for not submitting accounts and wider financial information for the years to the end of June 2021 and 2022.

The charity had also failed to follow correct practice when supplying accounts for the previous three years, the commission said. 

The regulator said it began investigating Walsall Wood Saints Junior Football Club in June after identifying links to WWCFC.

Walsall Wood Saints also failed to supply accounts for the year to the end of June 2023 and submitted non-compliant accounts in 2022.

“The engagement with both charities raised additional concerns which are now being examined under inquiry,” the regulator said.

The regulator’s inquiry will investigate trustees’ compliance with their legal obligations for the preparation and filing of accounts and other information.

It will also examine whether trustees are managing their charities in line with their objects and governing documents and if there has been any misconduct and/or mismanagement in the charities’ administration.

The Charity Commission will look into whether the charities have a sufficient number of willing and capable trustees and whether they are complying with their legal duties.

Walsall Wood CFC and Walsall Wood Saints JFC have been contacted for comment.