A SEVEN-month stint as a social club secretary has left George Robinson bankrupt and cashing in his life's savings to survive.

Mr Robinson, aged 51, of Birdwell Drive, Great Sankey, was held liable for club debts of £17,500 after employees at the doomed Laportes Sports and Social Club sued its management committee.

Mr Robinson took up the post in December 1994, when the now defunct club, on Hood Lane, was struggling with debts of £88,000.

When club manager Stan Boardman sued the committee for unfair dismissal, along with four other employees, Mr Robinson became embroiled in a bitter court battle which left him personally liable for damages, even though he ran the club jointly with 14 other committee members.

Mr Boardman was awarded £15,000 by an industrial tribunal in Liverpool. Mr Robinson appealed against the decision on behalf of the committee, bearing the costs himself, but lost the case.

Then in September 1999, Mr Robinson received a letter demanding payment of damages totalling £18,393, with just 14 days to pay. He was bankrupted in July of this year after a hearing at Warrington County Court.

Now, Mr Robinson has been forced to remortgage his house and cash in his personal pension, endowment policy and other savings. He estimates that the proceedings have cost him a total of £33,000.

Mr Justice Morrison accepted in the High Court that the committee members were "jointly and severally liable," but while Mr Robinson has been pursued for the money, other members have been unwilling to share the cost with him.

He feels he has been made the 'fall guy' for the club and is calling for a change in the law to protect committee members.

Mr Robinson said: "My understanding of my duties was to organise committee meetings, order supplies and sign cheques along with the chairman and treasurer.

"I never at any time signed any legal undertaking or liabilities towards employees.

"This has financially ruined me. The whole business of receivership must be looked at more closely. If they were aware of their liabilities, I doubt there would be anyone left in the country willing to join club committees."

The club closed down in July 1995 and the clubhouse was gutted in an arson attack the following May. It is now the site of the David Lloyd Tennis Centre.

Mr Robinson is now out of bankruptcy.

RUINED: George Robinson wants the law to be changed so that committee members can be protected