Cash row as Clinton lecture called off

Published on Monday 16 June 2008 21:58

FORMER United States president Bill Clinton was yesterday caught in the crossfire of a bitter dispute between his European agent and a Scottish events company, over the cancellation of a planned lecture.

He had been due to speak this Sunday at the Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre. It had been organised by PB Events, a firm formed by Brian Whittle, the former Olympic athlete, and Derek Stark, the former Scotland rugby star.

Mr Whittle claimed their company had been left facing a six-figure loss after the decision by Mr Clinton's Danish-based agent, World Celebrity Golf, to cancel his appearance. It told PB Events that Mr Clinton would not be appearing in Aberdeen after the events company failed to pay the full appearance fee following the 11th-hour withdrawal of a major sponsor.

A furious Mr Whittle claimed the agent was holding on to a "substantial" sum of money that his company had already paid as a deposit. "I feel we have been quite harshly treated," he said. "I'm devastated it's not happening, and I am quite angry that this can be done this way."

Ticket prices for the event started at 110. PB Events had been hoping to attract an audience of 2,000, but only 1,200 tickets had been sold.

Mr Whittle said the company's main priority was to ensure those who had bought tickets got a full refund.

World Celebrity Golf could not be contacted for comment.