NWDA chief under fire over job for rugby player's girlfriend

Mar 18 2008

THE NorthWest Development Agency last night defended its chief executive after claims he helped secure work at the agency for an associate’s girlfriend.

Steven Broomhead is alleged to have helped secure a secretary’s job for the girlfriend of star Warrington Wolves player Henry Fa’afili.

Mr Broomhead, who is deputy chairman of the Warrington Wolves club, last night declined to comment. A letter obtained by the Daily Post shows that on March 6, North West MP Paul Goggins received a letter from employment minister Pat McFadden confirming he had asked “officials to look into the allegations”.

Last night a spokesman for the Warrington-based NWDA insisted Mr Broomhead had played no part in the appointment of star winger Fa’afili’s girlfriend.

Fa'afili joined the Wolves in 2004 from the New Zealand Warriors.

In his final season for the club in 2007 he was the leading try-scorer in Super League, crossing the line 21 times.

The NWDA spokesman admitted the job in question had not been advertised because it was a 10-week short-term appointment, and a verbal reference was thought sufficient.

But under the agency’s current human resources policies, the job would now need to be advertised.

It is understood that Fa’afili’s girlfriend was employed in September 2005.

The complaint has been made by executive car company director Mike Colwell, who used to supply driving services to the agency.

The emergence of the allegations against Mr Broomhead come days after a BBC programme which featured Mr Colwell claiming Mr Broomhead spent £750 of NWDA cash on two chauffeur driven rides home from Rugby League Challenge Cup finals in Cardiff and London.

At the time the agency said: “Steven Broomhead covers many miles on behalf of the NWDA, working tirelessly to promote our region.

“It is entirely appropriate for him to be driven to and from events in this way as it allows him to work at the same time and ensures he arrives on time.”

The BBC’s programme also revealed £57,000 was paid for use of executive cars by senior NWDA staff including Mr Broomhead in 2005/06.

A NWDA spokesman said: “The complaint in relation to the appointment of the secretary has been properly looked into and responded to.

“It was made clear that the agency’s Chief Executive played no part in the appointment of that individual.

“Although this post was not advertised, this was not required under any of the agency’s policies at that time.

“The agency does not normally advertise externally for short-term posts due to time constraints.

“As this was a short term 10-week casual appointment, a verbal reference from a reputable source was sufficient for that purpose.

“Previous unsatisfactory candidates had been supplied by the Agency’s recruitment panel firms and the Agency did not break the law in any way in its appointment of this individual on a short term basis to cover urgent need for secretarial support.”

A spokesman for Mr McFadden’s department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform said he had nothing to add to the NWDA’s statement.