The question at the heart of this case is pretty simple: who owns Swindon Town? Two years ago, football agent Michael Standing and Australian construction mogul Clem Morfuni each obtained court orders preventing Lee Power from selling shares in the club. Why? Because they claimed they owned a stake in the club. Morfuni said he’d paid £1.1m for a 15 per cent stake in Town in 2018. That matter was later settled – so he
does now own his 15 per cent stake. Mr Standing said he went in 50-50 with Lee Power, although his involvement was hidden at the time. Mr Power, by contrast, says that Mr Standing was acting on behalf of Premier League player Gareth Barry.
Swindon Town chairman Lee Power, photographed last year at the Exeter City match Picture: DAVE EVANS Lawyers for Mr Standing and 15 per cent shareholder Clem Morfuni sought to block Mr Power’s attempt to lift both orders. Mr Morfuni’s company, Axis Football Investment Ltd, is keen to buy the club. It has offered to invest £250,000 – although a letter to Mr Power’s representatives asking for more details of Able’s offer had gone unanswered. Judge Thompsell, the deputy High Court judge hearing the case on Monday, likened the situation to a car speeding headlong towards a wall with Mr Morfuni and Mr Standing trying to pull the steering wheel one way and Mr Power attempting to turn the car the other way.