by Ron Gregory
ronjgregory@gmail.com
MATEWAN — Law enforcement officials in Mingo County are apparently interested in why the Matewan Midget Football League team did not get to participate in Southern West Virginia Midget playoffs.
One of the team coaches, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said he had “spoken twice” with a Mingo police officer. “He said he is looking into it and plans to find out where the money went,” the coach said.
At issue is why Matewan’s Tiger Midgets are not participating in the league playoffs. While they earned the right to play during the regular season, Matewan has not been included in the playoffs that started last weekend.
The league president, Michael Goad, has been a no-show in the community since announcing on social media that the team would not be allowed to participate in the playoffs. Goad also announced he is stepping down from his position with the league.
Goad vaguely used the illness of his mother as a reason the team would not play. He said that illness forced him to miss a playoff meeting where a $600 fee was to be paid. Other sources, however, have said that Goad knew the money was due since the beginning of the season and simply did not pay it.
The coach who said he had spoken with police said he was aware of at least $12,000 taken in by the team this season, “The question is, where did that money go?” he asked.
A parent said a team meeting scheduled for this evening that was to include presentation of awards to players had apparently “been cancelled. Mike hasn’t mentioned it again.”
A different coach defended Goad, saying he had “sacrificed” to make the league viable. “I’ve seen Mike take money out of his own pocket to pay team expenses,” he said. This coach maintained that Goad has been avoiding parents “because eight of them have threatened to whip him. He’s getting a little older; he doesn’t want a fight.”
All of those involved have questioned why league commissioner Robert Basadre has not spoken out concerning the problem. “He is one who at least owes the parents an explanation,” another parent said of Basadre.
But the first coach said he had talked with Basadre who takes the position “it is not really his problem. He says it is a team problem.” The coach said Basadre has also taken “money from his own pocket” to pay Matewan team expenses. And he said Basadre told him he had informed Goad a day before the playoff meeting that the money had to be paid at the meeting.
“Why did Mike not just pay him then?” the coach asked. “Then he wouldn’t have had to worry about the meeting and getting money there.”
Further developments will be reported here.