Three lawyers faced being struck off today over accusations involving the running of a practice.

Among them is Aurangzeb Iqbal, who represented a dozen defendants following the Bradford riots in the mid-1990s and who was involved with Bradford City Football Club.

He is appearing alongside Michael Tracey and Sardar Qadri at a Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal in central London.

The three, who worked at Churchill Solicitors in Eldon Place, Manningham Lane, Bradford, are jointly alleged to have run a solicitors' practice in a manner designed to circumvent conditions imposed upon the practising certificate of Mr Iqbal, a solicitor and consultant with the firm.

Mr Iqbal, from Pudsey, had stringent conditions imposed to ensure he should work under supervision, the hearing was told.

The three are also accused of failing to ensure proper supervision in the practice, failing to keep accounts properly written-up and withdrawing cash from clients' accounts other than as permitted.

In addition, they are alleged to have failed to give full details of costs and relevant information to clients at the outset of cases and not to have accounted to Customs and Excise for VAT, as well as other allegations.

The case follows an unannounced visit from the Office For The Supervision Of Solicitors in February 2002. Charted accountant and OSS investigator Adrian Smith told yesterday's hearing a deficit of £106,000 had been found in the firm's finances.

Mr Smith interviewed Mr Tracey, the principal of the firm, and Mr Qadri, a partner and registered foreign lawyer who had resigned weeks before the visit in January 2002.

Mr Smith told the hearing: "I tried to keep my questions open and report accordingly.

"From everything said to me by Mr Tracey and Mr Qadri I gained the impression certainly that Mr Iqbal was a very important player in the firm.

"Mr Iqbal said to me he had set up the practice; he is a consultant and responsible for bringing new business into the firm."

Mr Smith did not formally interview Mr Iqbal, who said at the hearing in Central London: "On the face of it, I was the main man. Why not talk to the main man?"

The hearing continues.