'Gutted for the girls' as claims grow against football star

Up to 70 parents and businesses person present made allegations that they person mislaid wealth to erstwhile planetary footballer Natasha Harding.

It is understood the full fig mislaid could beryllium astir £70,000.

The erstwhile Reading captain, who is 1 of Wales' astir capped players and present uses her joined sanction of Allen-Wyatt, is facing a fig of claims, including that she took wealth for one-to-one coaching with children that she did not deliver.

Ms Allen-Wyatt said she had to cancel "some sessions" owed to circumstances extracurricular her control, and apologised to those affected.

Since the archetypal allegations emerged, parents and businesses from southbound Wales, northbound Wales, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire person told BBC Wales astir their ain experiences with Ms Allen-Wyatt, successful caller claims amounting to £27,000.

Meanwhile, a genitor who acceptable up a WhatsApp radical for those affected said their claims totalled astir £40,000.

Reports person been made to a fig of constabulary forces successful Wales and England, immoderate of which person been passed connected to Action Fraud, which co-ordinates fraud complaints from each regions.

Action Fraud said astatine slightest 1 study "is presently being assessed" by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.

Former teammates person besides revealed to the BBC that immoderate of Ms Allen-Wyatt's actions "also impacted ourselves, our families and friends".

Ms Allen-Wyatt's erstwhile club, Manchester City, has been urged to chopped its ties with her arsenic a pundit and commentator.

Andy Hughes, a voluntary manager for Northop Hall Girls' under-12s and under-13s successful Flintshire, said Ms Allen-Wyatt had offered one-to-one coaching to squad members aft appearing arsenic a impermanent connected his podcast, This Girl Can Play, and mentioning she wanted to grow her academy to northbound Wales.

She subsequently signed up 12 players for 10 sessions of coaching, astatine a outgo of £280 per player.

But lone 2 blocks of coaching sessions were delivered, with consequent sessions cancelled oregon postponed aft Ms Allen-Wyatt told Mr Hughes that she had suffered 2 household bereavements.

No further sessions were arranged, and Mr Hughes said nary refunds had been given.

He said, "I was really, truly disappointed. For idiosyncratic who played the crippled astatine that level and who’s an icon to the adjacent procreation of women footballers, these sessions were truly important.

"How bash you explicate to an 11-year-old miss that their Welsh leader isn’t going to travel and manager them aft all, and that they’ve fto them down?

"I'm gutted that idiosyncratic we enactment guardant arsenic a large accidental has turned retired similar this. It's a shame due to the fact that the coaching she did present was good."

Daniel Rees, who runs Cardiff Classic Shirts, agreed to sponsor Ms Allen-Wyatt aft she contacted him done societal media.

He gave her £500, for which helium was promised the institution would beryllium advertised connected her academy grooming shirts, hoodies and jackets for a play of 2 years.

Mr Rees said helium had seen nary grounds of this being done and not received immoderate mentation contempt trying to interaction her.

"I couldn't find immoderate pictures of shirts that were meant to beryllium printed up, conscionable a mock-up I was sent," helium said.

"I ne'er thought the worst, I conscionable thought she was having a tally of atrocious luck and it would travel good.

"To spot present that it's truthful wide has travel arsenic a spot of a daze to the system."

Mr Rees said helium was besides promised 2 worn Wales lucifer shirts, which ne'er materialised.

Kate Parker, a keen Wales shot fan, purchased coaching sessions arsenic a Christmas acquisition for her niece aft seeing the Tash Harding Academy connected societal media.

Ms Parker, who runs 2 pubs successful the Caerphilly area, paid further amounts for sponsorship done the academy and kit for her niece, with the full coming to £1,335.

However, lone 1 grooming league was delivered, a 2nd 1 cancelled, and yet Ms Parker asked for a afloat refund.

Just £350 has been returned to her, successful 3 instalments, with £885 remaining outstanding.

"She'd promised my niece a Wales garment arsenic well... it's a large happening erstwhile you're a kid," said Ms Parker.

"My niece is rather shy, I've been to a mates of her shot matches and she doesn't get progressive arsenic overmuch arsenic the others.

"She was rather upset but my sister sat her down and explained that (the coaching) couldn't happen, and that's that."