The former owner of Waterford FC and Fleetwood Town has lost a bid to challenge his convictions for multiple fraud offences at the Court of Appeal. The Crown Prosecution Service opposed the appeal bid at the two-day hearing in London. National Trading Standards said in May 2023 that the fraud related to a "web of interconnected companies that misled innocent small businesses" nationwide. Pilley stepped down as chairman of Fleetwood Town following the trial, with the club stating at the time that the convictions "are against individuals and not Fleetwood Town FC, or any of the businesses associated with them". Adrian Darbishire KC, representing Pilley at the Court of Appeal, said on Tuesday that the impact of his client's "unrecognised disability" on the trial "renders the convictions unsafe".

Source: Irish Examiner February 25, 2026 17:37 UTC