MEMBERS of the Cheshire Penguins are to make an official complaint about the Amateur Swimming Association's handling of allegations into two of its leaders.

Group treasurer Steve Reilly said he is unhappy that members only found out the nature of the allegations - which the group strenuously denies - nearly a year after they first surfaced.

And they believe the matter is dragging out for far too long, putting Anne Calvert and Andy O'Gara, against whom the claims have been made and who have been suspended by the ASA2, and members of the swimming club under undue pressure.

It is believed the allegations - some of which date back to incidents two or three years ago - were first made in August 2003, but members of the Cheshire Penguins said they were only told about the nature of them in late June or early July 2004.

Despite frequent requests, the ASA declined to reveal any detail of the allegations made, but simply stated that they were in connection with offences under the Children and Young Persons Act of 1933. Mr Reilly said that this led people to wrongly believe they were claims of either a physical or sexual nature - something he strenuously denied.

He said: 'We are now aware that much of the complaint concerns maladministration.' He added: 'The club is fully behind Anne and Andy and we are continuing to fight what we see to be a grave injustice.

'Since the beginning of this whole affair, no-one from the ASA's investigation team - or Cheshire social services for that matter - has taken the trouble to visit the club to see how it operates, and that is disgraceful.I have sent six or seven e-mails to the ASA's legal department since Friday to find out what is going on and to complain about what has happened.

'I do appreciate what they have to do when they receive allegations such as those made against the club but the ASA has a duty of care to all its members, not simply those who made the allegations.'

The Cheshire Penguins, based at Sir John Deane's College has, for 22 years, been the only one of its kind in the county to cater for special needs.

Mr Reilly claims that if the ASA finds Ms Calvert guilty, it could spell the end for the group.

He said: 'I think that if Anne decided to give up working with people with learning difficulties because of the continuing pressure on her, that would signal the end of the Cheshire Penguins. I don't know anyone else whom I have met in the last 20 years who has her desire to look after people less fortunate than her - she has devoted her life to the Penguins.'