Northampton Town and the missing millions: A timeline of events
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The people of Northampton want to know what has happened to their missing millions.
The borough council loaned £10.25m to Northampton Town Football Club to redevelop the stadium and nearby land, but the funds have seemingly vanished, leaving an unfinished stand and the football club almost going under.
This story began four years ago when a decision was made to invest in the new stand. Now a police inquiry is under way into "alleged financial irregularities".
A BBC investigation has traced where most of the loan money seems to have gone, uncovering allegations millions of pounds was misappropriated by the developer appointed to oversee the project.
We've also discovered how some of it may have financed other schemes and how the developer, Howard Grossman, disguised his funding of former council leader David Mackintosh's successful bid to become the MP for Northampton South.
These hidden donations are now the subject of another police inquiry, after the Electoral Commission referred our findings to them.
Northampton Borough Council says it has no record of its former leader passing on a whistleblower's warning about the firm into which most of the loan money disappeared. David Mackintosh says this is "incorrect".
That firm, 1st Land Ltd, also received VAT repayments totalling almost a million pounds. Mr Grossman says the payments were 'entirely legitimate'.
The BBC also revealed how a senior council officer who would have blocked a loan wasn't told about the plans. The go-ahead to lend the money was given just weeks after she left.
Mr Mackintosh said he welcomed both police investigations and that he "will co-operate fully".
Below is our coverage to date. This timeline will be updated as we report on developments.
8th May 2017
'Right time' for loan row MP to go
The former agent of Conservative MP David Mackintosh says his decision to step down was the correct one "as there is a major police investigation going on"
8th May 2017
Stadium loan row MP will stand down
David Mackintosh, Conservative MP for Northampton South, announces his decision not to stand for re-election.
21st April 2017
Stadium row MP faces deselection fight
Conservative MP David Mackintosh faces a deselection fight over his role in a loan in which millions of pounds of public money appears to have vanished and questions over hidden campaign donations.
15th March 2017
Ex-Cobblers boss sees off £180k claim
The ex-Northampton Town Football Club chairman has been backed by a court over the latest bid by a council to recover public money it lost in a failed loan
7th December 2016
Football loan row causes MP-party split
The relationship between Tory MP David Mackintosh and his constituency members has collapsed over the loan to the football club, a senior party figure has said.
6th December 2016
Former Lib Dem borough councillor Brendan Glynane has said he and others who raised concerns about the loan from Northampton Borough Council to Northampton Town Football Club were "lied to" by the then leader David Mackintosh. A spokesman for David Mackintosh said: "Any actions David took in regards to the loan as leader were taken in good faith based on the expert advice and information supplied to him by officers of the council."
6th December 2016
Council boss 'sorry for loan mistakes'
The chief executive of Northampton Borough Council has apologised for mistakes made in arranging the deal to lend Northampton Town FC £10.25m.
2nd December 2016
Stadium row MP must 'consider position'
David Mackintosh "will have to "consider his position", his local party chairman has said after the Conservative MP was criticised over a £10.25m loan to redevelop a football stadium.
1st December 2016
Football loan firm's £900k tax repayment
The company under investigation over missing public money intended for a Northampton Town's stadium redevelopment received almost £1m in VAT repayments, the BBC has learned.
24th November 2016
£10m football club loan 'rushed through'
Northampton Borough Council rushed to approve a £10m loan to Northampton Town football club due to "political and management" pressure, a report has found.
09th November 2016
Council lent club £10m despite concerns
A senior council officer who had concerns about Northampton Town's finances left her post just weeks before her authority decided to loan the club more than 10 million pounds. The BBC has learned Northampton Borough Council's former head of finance hadn't been told about the plans.
20th September 2016
Northampton Town stadium firm spent money on Spurs
A firm being investigated over "missing millions" meant to revamp Northampton Town's ground spent £36,000 on tickets and hospitality for a Premier League football club, the BBC can reveal.
28 July 2016
'Hidden payments' to MP's fund probed
Hidden payments totalling £30,000 to a Tory MP's general election campaign are being investigated by the police.
14 July 2016
Northampton Borough Council agrees a further £500k to chase Cobblers cash
A further £500,000 has been earmarked by Northampton Borough Council in its bid to recover the £10.25m it loaned to Northampton Town Football Club.
17 June 2016
MP alerted to missing cash fears
Northampton Borough Council says it has no record of its former leader - now a Conservative MP - passing on a whistleblower's warning. David Mackintosh says this is "incorrect".
26 May 2016
Football director ‘can’t be found’
A council trying to recoup £10.25m it loaned to Northampton Town Football Club has said it could not locate the father of the club's former chairman, it wanted to serve legal papers on.
21 May 2016
Cardoza home sale cash to be held back
Solicitors are to keep half the proceeds of any sale of David Cardoza's £1.2m family home in case of further legal action, a court has ruled.
28 April 2016
Northampton Town loan: Bid to stop house sale
Northampton Borough Council is seeking an interim injunction to stop the sale of a house owned by the wife of the ex-chairman of the town's football club.
18 April 2016
'Missing millions' firm paid MP's costs
A Tory MP's general election bid got donations from a firm at the centre of an inquiry into the disappearance of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money.
2 April 2016
Northampton Town: Stand reopens at Sixfields
A football stand at the centre of a financial row has reopened for the first time in two years.
19 February 2016
Loan to club 'financed other projects'
Thousands of pounds of taxpayers' money to fund a football stadium project may have been diverted to finance a string of other schemes.
1 February 2016
£10m football loan 'misappropriated'
Millions of pounds of taxpayers' money intended for a football stadium redevelopment was "misappropriated" by developers.
26 January 2016
David Cardoza arrested over £10.25m loan to Northampton Town Football Club
The ex-chairman of Northampton Town FC has been arrested by police investigating a £10.25m loan given to the club by the borough council.
22 January 2016
Northampton MP David Mackintosh on election campaign fund 'error'
David Mackintosh MP has said a failure to declare an election campaign donation was down to an "error".
19 January 2016
Northampton Town: Council probe into missing £10.25m starts
A council leader said she will do everything in her power to retrieve millions of pounds of missing public money.
11 December 2015
Northampton Town insolvency dismissal 'in best interests'
A council has withdrawn insolvency proceedings against Northampton Town Football Club, claiming it is in everyone's "best interests" now a deal has been struck with a new owner.
10 December 2015
Northampton Town hearing 'to be withdrawn'
The future of Northampton Town has been secured after an agreement was signed to stop a hearing that could have seen the club go into administration.
9 December 2015
MP David Mackintosh payments will not be investigated
Undeclared payments made to an MP's office by a businessman will not be investigated by police.
3 December 2015
Northampton Town debt: Council says £10m loan 'will be recovered'
A council has said it has received a "number of offers" on land it claimed in return for an unpaid £10.25m loan for football stadium development.
3 December 2015
Northampton Town players and staff paid after Kelvin Thomas takeover
Northampton Town's players and staff have now all been paid their October and November wages after Kelvin Thomas' takeover of the League Two club.
30 November 2015
Northampton Town's winding up petition withdrawn by HMRC
The winding-up petition brought against League Two side Northampton Town has been withdrawn following a court hearing on Monday.
25 November 2015
MP's party 'received developer payment'
A Conservative MP's local party was given undeclared payments linked to a businessman involved in a stalled stadium development.
25 November 2015
Northampton Town: Kelvin Thomas takeover completed
Former Oxford United chairman Kelvin Thomas has completed his takeover of Northampton Town from David Cardoza.
24 November 2015
Northampton Town: £10m council debt could be wiped out
Northampton Town could be relieved of its £10.25m debt owed to the borough council, after the authority agreed to back a deal to sell the club.
23 November 2015
Northampton Town FC: Police start inquiry into 'alleged financial irregularities'
Police have started an investigation into "alleged financial irregularities" surrounding a council's £10.25m loan to Northampton Town Football Club.
11 November 2015
Northampton Town: Council lodges administration petition
Northampton Borough Council has lodged a petition asking for Northampton Town to be put in administration in a bid to save the League Two club.
10 November 2015
Stadium work boss had 'already failed'
The director of a company employed to oversee the development of a football stadium had failed in a previous business venture.
7 November 2015
A football club chairman and his father were given a "loan" of more than £2.5m by a company set up to oversee the development of its stadium.
Chairman given £2.65m of club's cash
6 November 2015
MP David Mackintosh 'feels responsible' over £10m unpaid loan
An MP says he "has to take some responsibility" over an unpaid £10.25m loan to a football club.
6 November 2015
Northampton Town FC loan: Police in talks with council
Police are working with Northampton council "to see whether any criminality has occurred" in connection with its £10.25m loan to the town football club.
30 October 2015
Northampton Town players not paid
Players and staff at Northampton Town Football Club have not been paid due to its financial problems, it has confirmed.
28 October 2015
Northampton Town buyer looking for 'sensible deal'
A "sensible deal" to buy Northampton Town may not be possible, according to the man who wants to take control of the football club.
27 October 2015
Northampton Town players facing pay delay
Financial problems at Northampton Town Football Club mean there is "every chance" players and staff will not get paid on time.
23 October 2015
Northampton Town: £10m loan to club 'will not be written off'
A council loan of more than £10m to a League Two football club will not be written off, the authority has said.
22 October 2015
Northampton Town: Sixfields contractors CDNL in liquidation
A company set up to oversee the development of a new stand at Northampton Town Football Club has been forced into liquidation.
15 October 2015
Northampton Town issued with winding up petition by HMRC
League Two club Northampton Town have been issued with a winding-up petition by HM Revenue and Customs.
25 September 2015
Northampton Town must repay £10m loan to borough council
Northampton Town Football Club has been given three weeks to pay back more than £10m to the borough council.
11 September 2015
Northampton Town: David Cardoza discusses council loan
Northampton Town chairman David Cardoza talks to BBC Look East about a sizeable loan the club have received from the local council, ahead of a proposed takeover by a London-based Indian consortium.
9 September 2015
Northampton Town fans to protest at Oxford United game
Northampton Town fans are planning a peaceful protest before Saturday's League Two match against Oxford United over chairman David Cardoza's running of the club.
24 June 2015
Northampton Town set for takeover by Indian consortium
League Two side Northampton Town are set to be taken over by an Indian consortium after both parties signed a heads of terms agreement.
9 October 2014
Northampton Town Sixfields stadium 'dispute' halts work
Work to redevelop one of the stands at Northampton Town's Sixfields Stadium has been temporarily halted by a "contractual dispute", the club said.
25 September 2014
Northampton Town FC stadium: 10,000 seats and 225 homes plan
Plans for a 100-room hotel, shops and houses next to a football stadium and athletics track in Northampton have been submitted to the borough council.
5 October 2013
Northampton Town FC Sixfields plan to be debated
A land deal including a £12m loan that forms part of a stadium development in Northampton is set to be backed.
4 July 2013
Northampton Football club agrees Sixfields redevelopment deal
Northampton Town Football Club has agreed a deal with the local council that will see a multi-million pound redevelopment of its Sixfields Stadium.
12 July 2012
Development of Northampton Town's Sixfields to go ahead
A deal that could see new shops, offices and a hotel built on land near Northampton Town Football Club's stadium has been given the go ahead.
