Goals Soccer Centres appoints Martin Johnson as interim finance chief

Goals Soccer Centres updated the market on its search for a new finance chief on Tuesday, following the resignation of chief financial officer Bill Gow in July last year to join his family business.

The AIM-traded firm announced the appointment of Martin Johnson as its interim chief financial officer.

It said Johnson would join in early February, and would carry out an “extensive” handover with Gow and the finance team.

The Goals board described Martin Johnson as a “highly experienced” leisure CFO, who spent the last 12 years as CFO of Great Rail Journeys.

He joined that company in 2006 as part of the management buy-in, was said to have been “integral” to the management team that grew the business “significantly” over that period, and was involved in two successful ownership changes during his tenure.

Prior to that, he had various roles at MyTravel Group and Ernst and Young.

“Bill was one of the founders of the business in 2000,” said Goals Soccer Centres chief executive Andy Anson.

“On behalf of the board of directors and the company, I thank Bill for his long contribution to the business over the years and wish him well for the future.”

Ansn also welcomed Johnson to the firm.

“His experience of operating businesses with the pressure, scrutiny and discipline of private equity ownership will be valuable to Goals as it develops and executes its well-defined strategy.”