sportskeeda
A football club’s kit man has been accused of trying to blackmail its affluent owner.
Duncan Whitehead, 54, a former police hostage negotiator, allegedly threatened to reveal damaging information about Port Vale’s Carol Shanahan unless she paid him £15,000.
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Shanahan, 67, has co-owned the League Two club alongside her husband Kevin since 2019.
The couple reported Whitehead to the police in October.
Details surrounding the alleged threats made against Ms. Shanahan, who made £10 million when establishing the financial technology firm Synectics Solutions in the 1990s, remain ambiguous.
Recently, Whitehead appeared in front of North Staffordshire magistrates court.
He has yet to enter a plea and is set to appear at Stoke-on-Trent crown court on January 5.
Whitehead, a resident of Blackpool, served in the Lancashire Constabulary from 1992 until 2014 before resigning to create a mental health charity.
He has worked as a kit man for multiple lower league teams and joined Port Vale two years ago.
Alongside his part-time writing endeavors, he also serves as a private security guard.
Take That member Robbie Williams, 50, Port Vale’s most notable fan, was appointed president earlier this year, although he does not hold any operational position within the club.
Robbie Williams to buy Port Vale
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