A FAMOUS youth club that launched the career of numerous Scots footie stars is at the centre of a £25,000 “fraud” probe.
Hutchison Vale suspended coach Paul Fraser while cops investigate what happened to cash for a tourney in Spain.
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Teenage starlets who’d spent months raising £600 each were packed for the five-day trip when it emerged no flights had been booked.
Last night a source at the Edinburgh outfit told The Scottish Sun on Sunday: “It was a huge deal for them.
“Their families contributed a lot.
“A coach had been tasked with arranging travel but parents started to ask questions when no flight details had been shared by the week before they were to leave.
“They were told they would be refunded in days but it became weeks, then months.
“Nobody has had a penny back yet.”
Mr Fraser has deleted his social media accounts since the planned break was cancelled.
He’d been expected to sort out travel for 18 players, 30 parents and three club officials to the Copa Daurada event in Salou, south of Barcelona.
The Hutchison Vale side was due to compete with nearly 100 youth sides from across Europe at Easter.
The source said: “The boys are all heartbroken.
“Parents reported it to the club straight away and they brought in police.”
Hutchison Vale, based in the capital’s Saughton, was a starting point for a host of top pro footballers including ex-Celts John Collins and Leigh Griffiths plus former Rangers aces Kenny Miller and Allan McGregor.
A spokesman said: “The club are aware of a police investigation involving an ex-coach of the club.
“The circumstances were reported in July by a parent to the club, who immediately informed Police Scotland.”
Mr Fraser said: “Full refunds are being paid to parents.
“There has been a lot of confusion.”
A police spokesman said: “Enquiries are ongoing following a report of an alleged fraud in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh.”
