Borough welcome Fallon back from '˜wilderness'

Fallon, who has just finished a three-and-a-half-year Football Association (FA) ban from any involvement in football, was at Borough’s pre-season friendly with Woking on Saturday.

He was found guilty by the FA of transfer irregularities in 2013, along with the Hawks.

It’s a charge he still refutes to this day.

Speaking to The News, Fallon confirmed his link-up with the National League South outfit.

He’s keen to get involved in helping Borough out financially, but doesn’t want to get involved in the day-to-day football side of things.

‘It has been difficult being out in the wilderness for four years or more,’ said Fallon.

‘All I want is to be somewhere on a Saturday that is playing National League South football or above.

‘Even now I still don’t accept the findings of the Football Association because I put everything in writing what we proposed to the player involved.

‘What I have said to Borough is that I don’t want any involvement at all in the day-to-day running of the club.

‘But what I will do is give them some financial assistance to make sure what happened to them last season doesn’t re-occur.

‘This has been put in writing and if anyone pursues me to do other than that then I will walk away.

‘I don’t want to go through anything like the two-day hearing in front of the FA at Wembley and a four-year ban again.’

Fallon was appointed vice-chairman by the Hawks in March 2012, following his departure from Southern League outfit AFC Totton.

Within four months, however, relations had soured as Fallon resigned and later threatened the club with a winding-up order.

At the time he claimed he was owed in the region of £84,000.

The club, in turn, accused Fallon of failing to pay for agreed sponsorship.

In May the following year, after a seven-month investigation into transfer irregularities, both Fallon and the club – along with then-assistant manager Sean New – were found guilty by the Football Association.

Fallon was handed a three-and-a-half-year ban and fined £5,000 after two breaches of FA rules were found proven in relation to offering payments to a player, Tom Davis.

The former Carshalton player was also found guilty of misconduct.

The Hawks were warned of their future conduct and fined £2,000, with £1,500 suspended until July of this year.

The charges related to FA Rules C:1 (b) (v) and C1 (b) (vi) which state that ‘All payments made to Players must be made by the club and fully recorded in the accounting records of the club’ and that ‘All salaried payments must be subject to PAYE and National Insurance.’

Gosport Borough chairman Mark Hook confirmed he was happy to have Fallon on board to help in a financial capacity.

‘It is always good to have extra finances coming into the club and even better that Jim is a footballer’s man,’ said Hook.

‘What we need at Gosport are people prepared to help the club.

‘The second half of last season was particularly difficult, but we have overcome that now.

‘It is good to have people of the calibre of Jim helping because he knows his football.’