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Guernsey footballing legend Matt Le Tissier appears to be embroiled in a legal dispute with his former business partner and family friend Steve Phillips – with the former Southampton star saying Mr Phillips left the business following “financial irregularities”.
Mr Le Tissier set up MLT Natural Coaching in 2012 in the city he famously represented in premiership football in the 1990’s, becoming a local hero in the making and gaining the national nickname ‘Le God’.
At the time of its launch the business – which is still in operation – was widely covered in the national news promoting Mr Le Tissier’s natural approach to coaching specially selected children aged 7-12.
“What we want to do is take the shackles off and let them develop as naturally as they possibly can, without people forcing formations on them, or rigid defensive structures.
“At this age I think they need to be free to play football,” Mr Le Tissier told inSport online.
According to a blog post Mr Phillips joined the company as in 2014 having spent 26 years working as a Senior Private Banking Manager and Advisor for RBS and Natwest.
Pictured: Steve Phillips.
It appears that Mr Phillips has since set up another coaching company currently known as Icon Sports Coaching. Icon Sports Coaching has a website and twitter page which was previously populated with posts from “MLT in the community”.
Steve Phillips is listed as Managing Director on the website (mltinthecommunity.co.uk). Matt Le Tissier does not feature on the website in any capacity.
“Welcome to Icon Sports Coaching previously known as “Motivational Lifestyle Team In The Community,” the home page reads.
In tweets sent out to Mr Le Tissier’s 517,000 followers on Tuesday afternoon, the footballer said he felt the need to clarify his lack of involvement in Icon Sports Coaching and that a legal issue was ongoing.
For the record. I have nothing to do with @coachingicon (was MLT in the community)which I also had nowt to do with. It’s being run by former director of @MLTNC7 Steve Philips in competition with us despite him still being a shareholder of MLTNC. It’s in the hands of lawyers now
— Matt Le Tissier (@mattletiss7) April 30, 2019
Steve Philips and his wife and son resigned from @MLTNC7 after some financial irregularities were uncovered again these are also in the hands of lawyers.
— Matt Le Tissier (@mattletiss7) April 30, 2019
The MLT Natural Coaching website announced that Mr Phillips had become part of a “fantastic family” in joining the company in 2012. It also included a picture of the two posing together at a wedding “Matt Le Tissier and Steve were destined to be lifelong friends. Their mum’s (sic) went to school together in Guernsey, from the age of five.
Pictured: Matt Le Tissier and Steve Phillips pictured together at a wedding.
“Their friendship blossomed, Steve's mum moved away from Guernsey, marrying in 1966 and setting up a family home in Eastleigh, where Steve and his brother Darren grew up.
“Steve remembers fantastic, family summer holidays in Guernsey with his relations and of course the ‘Le Tissier Family’, spending as much time with a young, unknown Matt,” it reads.
The post makes much emphasis on the importance of the pair as practically family, including a quote from Mr Philips himself:
"I know Matt and I wanted to make our parents proud of our achievements as we set out in our respective career paths," said Steve.”
In response to tweets calling for Le Tissier not to “air his dirty laundry” on twitter, the footballer wrote: “It’s the easiest way to put the record straight, (I) have only provided facts nothing more nothing less.”
It’s the easiest way to put the record straight, have only provided facts nothing more nothing less ???????? https://t.co/yeUGj1Cxgh
— Matt Le Tissier (@mattletiss7) April 30, 2019
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