by Dan » Fri Jun 28, 2019 7:32 pm
From the local MP
Dear Friends
I’m writing to update you following my meeting with NCFC Chairman, Alan Hardy, earlier this afternoon. I’m disappointed that he refused to meet with you as representatives of the Club’s supporters’ groups directly. I told him that you are angry, worried about the future of the Club you love and feel that communication has been inadequate.
I’m afraid that whilst I put your questions to him, the answers I received will not provide you with the assurances you’d like.
He confirmed
There is still no definite buyer
He has no money left to pay staff
He has a fiduciary duty to sell the Club to the highest bidder - subject to his lawyers believing that the buyer will satisfy the FA’s fit and proper person test - which in his view is primarily about financial sustainability
His view is that anyone wanting to run the Club successfully needs to find a way for it to be self-sustaining
He also provided a response to the specific questions on Lifeline:
The Club needed to pay Crawley ticket money. The Club paid for the pitch renovation and this was then repaid to the Club by Lifeline - the implication being there was a cash flow issue but that the Lifeline money was used to pay for pitch renovation.
He denied any problems with the training pitch which he said has never been closed and is used by the team, the Academy and for girls training every week.
He said there was no connection between the introduction of IT infrastructure to enable the use of WiFi at the ground/contactless payments and the decision to use Ticketmaster for the sale of tickets.
I hope this is helpful. I appreciate that it certainly doesn’t provide the assurances you were seeking.
I have also written to the FA and the City Council as we agreed.
Best wishes
Lilian Greenwood