Scottish Championship side St. Mirren is "being officially probed" by U.K. tax authority HMRC "over their failure to pay minimum wage -- and other Scottish clubs are in the sights of the taxman," according to Gary Ralston of the Scotland DAILY RECORD.
Officers from HMRC "have now written to the club asking for details" of the £1 ($1.6)-a-week deal signed by teenager Kieran Doran.
They have "demanded answers before the end of the month and Falkirk could be next in the firing line" after Will Vaulks admitted in the build-up to the Scottish Cup Final that his first contract with the club netted him just £4.33 a month.
Other clubs, particularly in the lower leagues, "also stand accused of offering peppercorn pay deals to tie down youngsters who are often happy to sign as they see a route to the big time."
But agreements between employers and employees that fail to reach national minimum wage levels "are illegal and invalid." It is believed "there could be dozens of similar cases in Scottish football but kids and their parents are often afraid to rock the boat in case it jeopardises their future in the game" (DAILY RECORD, 7/14).
