Former Wales international footballer Natasha Allen-Wyatt (formerly Harding) is facing serious allegations of financial misconduct involving her Tash Harding Academy, with numerous parents, businesses, and teammates accusing her of taking money for services not delivered.
The allegations include:
1. Coaching Sessions:
Parents reported paying between £180 and £975 for one-to-one coaching sessions, with most receiving only one or two sessions, including a free taster. Many children were left feeling rejected and disappointed. For instance, Lucy and Matt Roberts paid £300 for 10 sessions for their seven-year-old daughter Willow, but only received two sessions.
2. Charity and Sponsorship Issues:
The BBC understands that £3,770 raised from a charity skydive in 2020 was not passed on to intended charities. Additionally, businesses claimed they paid sponsorship fees but received minimal returns. James Matthews of Sub-zero Refrigeration said he invested £10,000 but only received £437 back over a year.
3. Team and Club Impacts:
Club Dreigiau Dâr, a volunteer-run football club, paid £650 for 20% profit share and 12 coaching sessions but only received two sessions and no profits. The club’s secretary described the situation as “heartbreaking”.
Allen-Wyatt was unexpectedly removed from the Wales women’s squad in late 2022, reportedly due to allegations of not repaying money borrowed from teammates. The Football Association of Wales (FAW) released a statement describing the allegations as “extremely disappointing” and not representing the squad’s values.
Parents reported various excuses for cancelled sessions, including car crashes, scheduling conflicts, her wedding, and hen party. Many requests for refunds were met with silence or promises that were never fulfilled.
The impact extended beyond financial losses. Some children experienced decreased confidence and feelings of rejection. Hannah Thole, for example, felt “embarrassed” when her father had to chase Allen-Wyatt for promised coaching sessions.
Allen-Wyatt, who retired from football in September 2023 after 103 caps for Wales, launched her academy in August 2023. She claimed to have run 2,000 coaching sessions across Wales and surrounding areas.
In her response, Allen-Wyatt admitted cancelling “some sessions” due to circumstances beyond her control, such as car issues. She maintained that the academy was established to provide low-cost, technical coaching to children and that she continues to operate and deliver local sessions.
The FAW has encouraged potentially affected individuals to seek support and report any potential illegal activities to the police.
The allegations have raised significant concerns about trust, accountability, and the potential exploitation of young athletes’ aspirations in grassroots sports.
