MG Xpower Bitter Dispute

William Riley the man who promised to revive MG’s proud motor sports heritage is being chased by former employees for thousands of pounds in unpaid wages and also faces theft charges, 

Above pictured 1 of 42 production cars at the Nurburgring.

He promised that he would soon be employing more than 150 workers after ploughing more than £2.5 million into his dream to make 200mph super cars in the Midlands.

But Mr Riley’s dream now appears to have turned in to slush after he was arrested on suspicion of theft and battles a war with his bitter staff who say they worked for months without receiving a penny.

They claim that the tiny MG Sports headquarters in Tenbury Wells, Worcestershire, has never produced a single car and have accused him of putting a David versus Goliath trademarks battle ahead of paying salaries to struggling workers.

Mr Riley is also fighting Chinese car giants Nanjing, which bought the collapsed Longbridge firm for £53 million, in the High Court for the right to use the famous red octagon.

Despite the setbacks, Mr Riley told the Birmingham Post he was focused on making cars and denied he had done anything wrong. He said he had been set back by the slump in the motor trade and let down by the same workers taking action against him.

His solicitors have now issued a counter claim for £16,000 against one former employee for work which had been “unsatisfactorily” carried out.

Among the disgruntled ex-staff is Mr Riley’s former right-hand man Tony Cox, who said he was driven close bankruptcy because of a string of “undelivered promises” by Mr Riley.

He is satarting legal proceedings in January to try to claim £13000 in unpaid salary.