Archived News from May 2008
|
STAGS FANS UNITED: MAJOR PUBLIC MEETING - JUNE 2ND
|
 |
21 May 2008 MANSFIELD Town supporters are being urged to attend a major public meeting at the beginning of June to find out how they can back new group Stags Fans United (SFU) - and its bid to support any new owners of the football club. SFU was launched through the Chad and supporters group websites two weeks ago after a merger of the four main supporters group - Stags Supporters Association (SSA), TEAM Mansfield (TM), Stags Fans For Change (SFFC) and the Ollerton Stags Supporters Club (OSSC). It aims to try to persuade controversial owner Keith Haslam to finally complete his protracted sale of the club - and has called on fans to boycott season ticket sales and businesses to withhold sponsorship through a 'Haslam Free Zone' until suitable new owners are in place. The news of a united front from the groups was welcomed by fans, anxious to help new owners try to secure the club's future and secure a return to the Football League as quickly as possible. Now they can find out how to back SFU and to donate money to its fund to back any suitable owners of the Stags - and put their questions to the new group at the public meeting. At the event, leaders of SFU will outline its aims to try to secure a fans' representation in the future running of the Stags, as well as answer any queries from fans on the aims and financial appeal. The meeting will be held at Mansfield Civic Centre, 7 for 7.30pm, on Monday 2nd June, and will also feature guest speakers — hopefully including representatives from clubs where a supporters' trust has successfully bought into the running of a football club. Mr Haslam, who put the club up for sale 18 months ago and is still at the helm after an unprecedented season of drama off the field, has previously said that he wants to sell with a zero balance sheet. That is why the SFU believes that any money from the sale of season tickets and sponsorship deals before a takeover would not benefit the club or any new owner. Already several businesses have agreed not to renew sponsorship deals at the club or become involved in new commercial activity until a sale to an appropriate owner is completed. These companies include last season's main sponsor A. Sutton Pipelines Ltd (ASPL), together with East Midlands Plastering, the Fiducia Group, Phoenix Plumbing, Opsis Consulting, NDM Building Contractors, ASIS, Chad and 103.2. This week they were joined by: Aide Automotive, Anslow Tilescene, John Malcolm Insurance Consultants Ltd, DM Decorators, CCM Supplies Ltd, Ollerton House Hotel & Restaurant. And Victor Bobo, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses Mansfield and Ashfield, has urged all companies to back the SFU's campaign. He told Chad: "The success of Mansfield Town FC is vital to our local economy. I fully support the actions taken by SFU. And I would like to appeal to all the business community to support SFU." Businesses wanting to add their voice to the growing protest are urged to contact PO Box 6430, Kirkby, Notts, NG17 8RA. UPDATE, 29May2008: A representative from Supporters Direct, Kevin Rye, will be at the meeting to tell fans how supporters have been able to buy into the running of football clubs elsewhere. Mayor and current football club chairman Tony Egginton has also agreed to attend - and an invitation has been sent to Mansfield MP Alan Meale. Companies who have agreed not to sponsor the club until new owners are installed include last season's main sponsor A. Sutton Pipelines Ltd (ASPL), together with East Midlands Plastering, the Fiducia Group, Phoenix Plumbing, Opsis Consulting, NDM Building Contractors, ASIS, Chad, 103.2, Aide Automotive, Anslow Tilescene, John Malcolm Insurance Consultants Ltd, DM Decorators, CCM Supplies Ltd, Ollerton House Hotel and Restaurant. This week they were joined by S&A Roofing. -------- A MANSFIELD business leader has urged firms in the area to back new Mansfield Town supporters group Stags Fans United (SFU) — and its call for companies to withhold sponsorship until owner Keith Haslam sells the football club. SFU was launched two weeks ago in Chad and also urged fans to boycott season ticket sales until a suitable new owner has taken over the relegated club. The SFU — an amalgamation of the club's four main supporters groups — believes that income from season ticket sales and business sponsorship should go straight to any owners once Mr Haslam finally completes his protracted sale of the club. Already 15 Mansfield companies have joined the protest to make Mansfield a 'Haslam Free Zone', amidst fears that the club's relegation to non league football will cost the town's economy millions of pounds. The costly demotion to non league football has been blamed on the owner's often controversial stewardship of the Stags. Now Victor Bobo, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses Mansfield and Ashfield, has urged all companies to back the SFU's campaign. He told Chad: "The success of Mansfield Town FC is vital to our local economy. "I fully support the actions taken by SFU. And I would like to appeal to all the business community to support SFU." The SFU — formed by the Stags Supporters Association (SSA), TEAM Mansfield (TM), Stags Fans For Change (SFFC) and the Ollerton Stags Supporters Club (OSSC) — has also arranged a public meeting at Mansfield Civic Centre on Monday 2nd June, 7 for 7.30pm. At the meeting fans can find out how to financially support the SFU bid to back suitable new owners and secure a fans' representation in the future running of the Stags. This week Mansfield Town chairman Tony Egginton said he remained hopeful an end was in sight to the drawn-out takeover saga. It is believed that Mr Haslam is currently considering at least four bids for the club — but the Stags have made no official comment since a statement on 9th May saying it expected 'a formal response within the next 72 hours' to a buyout proposal that morning. ----------- Earlier story here. |
Latest | May 2008