Who is Lee Charnley and what has the Newcastle United managing director done to get arrested? Everything you need to know about Toon executive accused of tax fraud by HMRC
Magpies board member is the man that executes Mike Ashley's will at the club and has been in charge of hiring and firing various managers over the years
NEWCASTLE UNITED managing director Lee Charnley has been arrested over an investigation from HM Revenue and Customs.
Charnley has long been known to be the man to execute owner Mike Ashley's will at St James' Park.
That includes hiring and firing managers as well as re-shuffling the boardroom.
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But Charnley largely shuns the limelight, choosing to keep a low profile at the club.
However, news that he and dozens of others have been arrested will shock Newcastle fans that were only celebrating promotion back to the Premier League just two days before.
West Ham have also been targeted in dawn raids which allegedly surround transfer dealings and payments to HM Revenue and Customs.
Who is Lee Charnley?
Charnley is the managing director at Newcastle United and works under owner Mike Ashley, making sure his plans are executed at the club.
He is in charge of transfers at St James' Park and has say over whether managers get hired or fired.
What is Lee Charnley's history with Newcastle?
Charnley worked his way up at the club, during the era of Freddie Shepherd and Sir John hall, he was understudy to chief operating officer Russell Cushing.
One of his strengths over the years appear to be that he has "refused to play politics" - instead choosing a more diplomatic approach with the internal workings of the club and the dressing room.
Charnley, 39, has quite often been described as "quiet and shy" in his workings in the boardroom.
He got his break in the current role when Joe Kinnear was appointed as director of football and despite the former Wimbledon manager's blundering and ill-fated spell, Charnley managed to hold his head.
What has Lee Charnley been arrested for?
He has been arrested for alleged financial irregularities with HM Revenue and Customs.
Along with West Ham's Olympic Stadium, St James' Park was raided by officers this morning and there have been several arrests at both grounds.
The government body confirmed the arrest of: "several men working within the professional football industry for a suspected Income Tax and National Insurance Fraud."