âGutted for the girlsâ as claims grow against football star
Up to 70 parents and businesses have now made allegations that they have lost money to former international footballer Natasha Harding.
It is understood the total figure lost could be almost ÂŁ70,000.
The former Reading captain, who is one of Walesâ most capped players and now uses her married name of Allen-Wyatt, is facing a number of claims, including that she took money for one-to-one coaching with children that she did not deliver.
Ms Allen-Wyatt said she had to cancel âsome sessionsâ due to circumstances outside her control, and apologised to those affected.
Since the first allegations emerged, parents and businesses from south Wales, north Wales, Gloucestershire and Worcestershire have told BBC Wales about their own experiences with Ms Allen-Wyatt, in fresh claims amounting to ÂŁ27,000.
Meanwhile, a parent who set up a WhatsApp group for those affected said their claims totalled around ÂŁ40,000.
Reports have been made to a number of police forces in Wales and England, some of which have been passed on to Action Fraud, which co-ordinates fraud complaints from all regions.
Action Fraud said at least one report âis currently being assessedâ by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau.
Former teammates have also revealed to the BBC that some of Ms Allen-Wyattâs actions âalso impacted ourselves, our families and friendsâ.
Ms Allen-Wyattâs former club, Manchester City, has been urged to cut its ties with her as a pundit and commentator.
âI was really, really disappointedâ
Andy Hughes, a voluntary coach for Northop Hall Girlsâ under-12s and under-13s in Flintshire, said Ms Allen-Wyatt had offered one-to-one coaching to team members after appearing as a guest on his podcast, This Girl Can Play, and mentioning she wanted to expand her academy to north Wales.
She subsequently signed up 12 players for 10 sessions of coaching, at a cost of ÂŁ280 per player.
But only two blocks of coaching sessions were delivered, with subsequent sessions cancelled or postponed after Ms Allen-Wyatt told Mr Hughes that she had suffered two family bereavements.
No further sessions were arranged, and Mr Hughes said no refunds had been given.
He said, âI was really, really disappointed. For someone who played the game at that level and whoâs an icon to the next generation of women footballers, these sessions were really important.
âHow do you explain to an 11-year-old girl that their Welsh hero isnât going to come and coach them after all, and that theyâve let them down?
âIâm gutted that someone we put forward as a great opportunity has turned out like this. Itâs a shame because the coaching she did deliver was good.â
Daniel Rees, who runs Cardiff Classic Shirts, agreed to sponsor Ms Allen-Wyatt after she contacted him through social media.
He gave her ÂŁ500, for which he was promised the company would be advertised on her academy training shirts, hoodies and jackets for a period of two years.
Mr Rees said he had seen no evidence of this being done and not received any explanation despite trying to contact her.
âI couldnât find any pictures of shirts that were meant to be printed up, just a mock-up I was sent,â he said.
âI never thought the worst, I just thought she was having a run of bad luck and it would come good.
âTo see now that itâs so widespread has come as a bit of a shock to the system.â
Mr Rees said he was also promised two worn Wales match shirts, which never materialised.
Kate Parker, a keen Wales football fan, purchased coaching sessions as a Christmas gift for her niece after seeing the Tash Harding Academy on social media.
Ms Parker, who runs two pubs in the Caerphilly area, paid further amounts for sponsorship through the academy and kit for her niece, with the total coming to ÂŁ1,335.
However, only one training session was delivered, a second one cancelled, and eventually Ms Parker asked for a full refund.
Just ÂŁ350 has been returned to her, in three instalments, with ÂŁ885 remaining outstanding.
âSheâd promised my niece a Wales shirt as well⊠itâs a big thing when youâre a kid,â said Ms Parker.
âMy niece is quite shy, Iâve been to a couple of her football matches and she doesnât get involved as much as the others.
âShe was quite upset but my sister sat her down and explained that (the coaching) couldnât happen, and thatâs that.â
BBC Wales approached Ms Allen-Wyatt or comment about these latest claims but received no response.