Following the release of the recent BBC documentary, Football’s Financial Shame: The Story of the V11, which aired on BBC Two earlier this month, Oxford United would like to express our unwavering support for Men’s First Team Coach, Craig Short.
The film followed 11 former Premier League footballers, including Craig, who lost tens of millions of pounds through financial advisers, an issue which affected up to 200 footballers, leaving some losing their homes and being made bankrupt.
They are now being chased for millions more in tax, despite being told by City of London Police they were "victims of crime".
The Club would like to commend Craig for his bravery in sharing his story publicly, and we stand with him as he continues the fight for justice.
The V11 campaign group was assembled by Craig's wife, Carly Barnes-Short - a solicitor and former criminal defence lawyer. Her aim, together with the 11 retired footballers, is to change the law to protect victims of crime from serious tax charges, while also bringing in new initiatives to help protect the next generation of players and better support former players.
Joining in 2020, Craig has been an integral part of the Club as Men’s First Team Coach, and on occasions has stepped up as interim Head Coach, most recently in December 2024 before the arrival of Gary Rowett.
“I just want to take some time to thank everyone at Oxford United, and to all the fans who have reached out with such kind words,” Craig said.
“The support I’ve received has meant so much to me, my family, and to the people who have gone through what I did. It is not an easy story to share but knowing I’m part of such a caring football community both in Oxford and beyond has made a huge difference.
“We want to use what we have gone through to promote a positive change and let current footballers and non-footballers know of the potential pitfalls out there. We look forward to continuing our discussions both at Government level, and within our own communities to ensure no one else goes through this again.”
Craig Short and his wife, Carly Barnes-Short
