Swindon Town owner Clem Morfuni's former firm wound up by court

On January 31 a judge at the Insolvency and Companies Court ruled that Axis Services Group Ltd should be liquidated.

On the same day the court judgement was made, a filing was posted on Companies House to state that Clem Morfuni was no longer a person of significant control, having been replaced by James Mark Skelton, which was backdated to February 2023.

A few days previously another filing had been made, showing Mr Morfuni had been removed as director for the firm, with Mr Skelton also taking his place, which was also backdated to February 2023.

The winding-up petition that led to the judgement was filed by construction supplier Grant and Stone in March 2023, before being taken on by Parkerr Contracting and Installation Ltd on May 17, as confirmed by their lawyers.

A winding-up petition is a formal legal tool used by creditors against a company that it claims owes them money and is unable to pay its debts.

The decision, which followed eight court hearings, means a liquidator is to be appointed who will manage the winding down of the firm, selling its assets and paying off its debts.

It is not known how much the firm, which had provided Swindon Town FC with a loan of £187,000 in 2021, owes to creditors.

A Credit Safe search carried out in February this year shows there had been seven County Court Judgements against the company in the last year, totalling £93,179. 

It also revealed that Yesss (A) Electrical Ltd, London AC Limited and Edmundson Electrical Limited had all also filed winding-up petitions. 

The Adver understands this relates to the construction of two blocks of flats in London in 2021 which is separate from the 2018/2019 project that led to The Shore Group's debt. 

Several firms subcontracted or used as suppliers say payments were delayed during construction and some allege they are still owed money by the Axis company from the 2021 project.

Paul McClounan, director of Arcforce Engineering, said: “They owe us about £250,000 but their argument is we didn’t finish the job, although we were off the job due to non-payment.”

Property developer Osborne, also known as Geoffrey Osborne Limited, has also filed a proof of debt amounting to £508,460.

Axis Services Group has been removed from Mr Morfuni’s Axis website, and members of staff that worked for the company have since taken up jobs at Swindon Town FC.

As listed on the Axis Services website, the football club’s CEO Antony Hall was formerly the UK managing director of Axis Services Group until he moved to the club in July 2023.

Axis' operations manager Lee Dover became the club's stadium manager at the same time but has since left to ‘return to construction’.

Annabella Da Costa was the financial controller of Axis Services Group as well as AXIS M&E UK, another former UK arm of the corporation, both of which are now in administration.

She now holds the same position at Swindon Town.

Axis Services Group is now the third company formerly owned and directed by Mr Morfuni to be liquidated shortly after changing hands to Mr Skelton.

Mr Morfuni was the sole director and shareholder of Axis M&E until March 2020 when Mr Skelton was appointed as director, but he still remains listed as a director on Companies House as well as the sole person with significant control. 

Just months after Mr Skelton’s appointment, in June 2020, the business was wound up and has been in liquidation since then.

Since then Axis Plumbing NSW Pty ltd, based in New South Wales, Australia, entered administration in May 2023.

In a similar move, Mr Morfuni ceased to be a director and shareholder months before this in July 2022, again being replaced by Mr Skelton.

A spokesperson for Swindon Town said: "Clem Morfuni resigned from Axis Services Group Ltd on February 27, 2023.

"This was a private Ltd company and has no relevance or connection to Swindon Town Football Club.

"Clem Morfuni reserves his rights in full.”