A FOOTBALL manager who posed as a millionaire in a sophisticated business scam has been jailed after admitting perverting the course of justice.

Michael Jeffels, a former semi-professional footballer and manager of a North-East amateur league club, was disqualified from running a business after a previous firm went bust.

Despite the ban, the 40-year-old tricked an investor into becoming the sole director in his gym business, leaving her £35,000 out of pocket.

Jeffels, a previous chairman of Gateshead Thunder rugby league club, told Elizabeth Chambers that he was very wealthy and interested in buying a distillery she was selling in South Africa.

Jeffels even sent Ms Chambers a letter from a magistrate backing up his claims to be a millionaire but the reality was he had money troubles.

Ms Chambers ended up investing thousands of pounds into the venture, even borrowing huge sums from a friend.

The court heard that some £170,000 in gym membership fees which were paid into Jeffels’ business account had disappeared.

He was originally charged with fraud, but after he admitted being concerned in the management of a company while disqualified the previous charges were dropped.

Jeffels also admitted perverting the course of justice after making a false claim for £40,000 damages following a car accident.

Now Jeffels, the former manager of Walker Central, in Newcastle, and currently in charge of Seaton Delaval Amateurs, in Northumberland, will be missing from the dugout after he was jailed for 15 months.

Jailing him at Newcastle Crown Court, Mr Justice Eder said: “It’s regrettable that a person who does so much good ends up committing offences which are so serious.”