Ex-Man City Women’s star investigated for ‘cheating smoking parents out of £45,000 in coaching sessions that NEVER happened’

AN international women’s footballer is being investigated for allegedly defrauding parents out of thousands of pounds for coaching sessions that never took place.

Welsh star Natasha Harding, who played for Manchester City, Liverpool and Aston Villa, is accused of taking hundreds of pounds for one-on-one training with youngsters – but never completing the lessons.

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Angry parents claim Harding, capped 103 times by Wales in a star-studded career, owes them £45,000 in back pay.

Harding has apologized for the canceled sessions but said it was “unavoidable” and “beyond my control”.

She said she is “devastated” by the situation and has agreed to pay a refund.

There are 27 “victims”, including entire teams of young girls who are said to have handed over as much as £1,200 each without getting anything in return.

Individual sessions for children aged between eight and 15 cost £30 an hour, but many parents bought multiple classes and some included whole teams of hopefuls.

Now the football community in South Wales, where Harding began his career, fear the ex-striker has deliberately taken their money and has no intention of giving it back or holding any of the coaching sessions.

A WhatsApp group was set up by outraged parents after they realized more and more alleged victims were owed hundreds of pounds by Harding.

A source, whose 12-year-old daughter was due to train with the ex-pro, told The Sun: “She promises a lot to the kids, my friend’s daughter is autistic and she kept asking when she was going to see Natasha.

“She spent £900 she wanted to add on dietitian and fitness plans but never actually got anything.

“She has repaid small amounts now that she knows we are fighting to get our money back.

“But the parents who owe more than £1,000 have not got anything back.”

After retiring from professional football last year, Harding, 35, began offering days where children could attend private sessions.

According to sources, the sessions grew in popularity and Harding began blocking bookings for up to £360.

OUT OF POCKET

Many of the children who have booked the sessions play for academies in Gwent, South East Wales or The South Girls’ Development Centre.

Their parents are afraid that speaking out could affect their children’s future football careers.

The anonymous source added: “She puts fear into us because she is seen as controlling the world of football, she has contacts everywhere.

“My daughter ended up having zero sessions, I couldn’t get her to commit to a date and it took me weeks chasing her to get the money back.

“People are realizing that she has purposefully taken money with no intention of giving it back.”

The promised sessions were due to start in June 2023, and when they began to be cancelled, many gave Harding the “benefit of the doubt”.

But now parents are exchanging up to 90 messages a day on a specially created WhatsApp group as the thirty pound sessions lost have started to pile up.

Reported excuses include Harding telling parents she had two car accidents in three weeks, along with two car accidents and a car “blow out”.

Harding, the 2016 Welsh Footballer of the Year, has been reported to Action Fraud and the National Fraud and Cyber ​​Crime Reporting Centre.

It is understood parents have also reported her to Gwent Police and Gloucestershire Police.

THE APOLOGY OF THE STARS

Harding, 35, who lives in Stroud, Glos, has apologised, blaming circumstances beyond her control for the missed coaching sessions.

She told The Sun: “I apologize to those affected whose sessions I was unable to complete.

“This was inevitable and it was never the intention not to complete the sessions.

“Due to circumstances beyond my control, which were always made clear to parents, I had to cancel some sessions after starting and finishing others.”

Harding, now a TV commentator for the women’s game, added: “I’ve been trying to expand my little academy and unfortunately I was let down by additional coaches, my car was written off and the other car broke down.

“When I was without a car, I would take a two-hour train to sessions to avoid cancellations, lug my equipment around and need taxis.

“However, this was not sustainable.

“The purpose of the academy is to provide detailed technical coaching to young boys and girls and give them opportunities I never had, with the award below alternative coaches to provide equal opportunities without barriers, prejudice or preference.

“I’m devastated that I haven’t been able to finish the session blocks and I’ve always been at the forefront of the issues I’ve faced that are out of my control.

“We agreed on reimbursement for these sessions and I have paid them.

“The majority of parents have been incredibly understanding and I have received a huge amount of positive references and I continue to work hard and deliver local sessions.”

A spokeswoman for Action Fraud confirmed a complaint had been lodged against Harding.