THE former chairman of IT firm iSoft has denied conspiring to make misleading statements about a major NHS project.

Patrick Cryne, 58, and three other former directors of the IT firm pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to make the statements to the stock market.

All four were bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court again on September 16. The Financial Services Authority alleges the men misled the stockmarket and external auditors about the firm's financial position.

Cryne, of Glossop, Derbyshire, is accused of conspiring with the three others to say a contract with the Irish Hospital Information Systems had been signed and funded before April 30, 2005.

Cryne; former chief executive Timothy Whiston, 42, of Lymm, Cheshire; and former directors Stephen Graham, 46, from Knutsford, and John Whelan, 43, of Cheadle Hulme, all denied the charge. iSoft, based in Banbury, is involved in the NHS’s National Programme for IT. In October 2007, it was sold to Australian software firm IBA Health.