Ex-Newcastle chief behind one of biggest flop transfers faces jail after High Court Judge issues warrant for his arrest
FORMER Newcastle vice-president Tony Jimenez faces jail over a debt to Mike Ashley after a High Court Judge issued a warrant for his arrest.
Jimenez, 62, worked alongside Ashley at St James Park before a spectacular 2008 fall-out over a proposed investment in a golf course in France.
The former Charlton co-owner was ordered to pay Ashley £3m in 2019 but has yet to pay a penalty – with interest charges and legal bills now taking the money owed to just short of £6m.
Jimenez’s claim that Ashley had agreed to pay him £10m was dismissed as “complete fantasy” by the Court with the document put forward on his behalf ruled as a “forgery”.
Despite being committed to a 60-day sentence in Wandsworth Prison in 2021, Jimenez – understood to be living in Spain – has refused to surrender to the order.
He also claimed – and had medical support for his arguments – that he is suffering from the major neurological complaint Guillan-Barre syndrome, which causes major muscle weakness and jerky movements.
But His Honour Judge Jonathan Klein issued the “bench warrant” for Jimenez’s arrest at a High Court hearing on Friday.
Judge Klein said he could “attach no weight” to the claims made about Jimenez’s medical condition.
He added he was “not convinced” the defendant would “ever submit” to the court “voluntarily”.
Jimenez was credited with bringing in one of Newcastle’s most infamous flops – Spanish striker Xisco.
He was also behind the recruitment of other stars like Jonas Gutierrez, Fabricio Coloccini and Ignacio González.
But those dealings were overshadowed by the failure of Xisco following his £6m arrival from Deportivo la Coruna in 2008.
The Under-21 international only played nine games in five years for the Magpies before returning to his home country with Cordoba.
Argentina midfielder Gutierrez was Jimenez’s most successful buy, becoming a St James’ Park favourite from 2008-2015.