This week City Fans United have written to all clubs in the Blue Square Premier apologising for the manner in which our club has conducted itself this season. A copy of this letter will also be circulated around all Supporters Trusts.
We believe that the time is right to stress to opposition clubs and the Blue Square Premier officials that we have no faith in the current ownership.
CFU want rival fans to realise that we find the position of the club totally unacceptable. The club was recently invited to attend a meeting with senior Football Conference officials but failed to send a suitable representative, an action which could potentially lead to the club being pushed further down the football pyramid.
We are also deeply concerned that the clubs players, many of whom are young footballers on low incomes, continue to be treated with contempt by the current ownership. CFU are extremely grateful for the effort shown by these players this season, some of whom can no longer afford to fill their cars with petrol to attend training, and completely understand the proposed strike action.
CFU can also reveal that we have twice applied to the solicitors dealing with the sale of club for a purchase pack and are yet to receive a response. We will continue to wait for an acknowledgement of our offer from Mike Blood at Brabners Chaffe Street. We have however spoken to various interested parties and all have expressed their disbelief at the sale terms quoted.
It is obvious that despite the current ownership reducing the asking price to £1.00, many of the sale terms quoted, including the £500,000 funding requirement in cash, will put off any prospective future owners from considering buying Chester City Football Club, as the deadline of March 10th draws closer.
Letter sent to Football Conference clubs:
To: all Conference Clubs
Chester City Football Club – an apology
You may be aware that Chester City Football Club has recently been given 42 days to put in place a CVA in order to stave off a winding up petition. We are writing for three reasons.
Firstly, and most importantly we would like to apologise to you as a fellow Conference Club for how our Club has been run. We are genuinely ashamed that our Club has not honoured contracts; has kept football clubs and our own players waiting for payment; and after being allowed to start the season through the unanimous vote of our fellow Conference Clubs is now back facing administration or worse. The trust and confidence you all gave us then has been repaid with contempt.
This reflects badly on us and does no good for the reputation of the League of which we are proud to be members.
Secondly, we would like to assure you that we are doing everything in our power to ensure the swift transfer of ownership of the Club to people who will operate in a radically different fashion.
Thirdly, you may have heard that we have called upon our own supporters to boycott home matches until there is a decisive change at the club. This is a decision we have not taken lightly and is amongst the most painful things we can do as loyal supporters. We are asking the supporters of other clubs to support our boycott but of course this is a matter of personal choice.
We would like to reassure you that whilst we would prefer them to stay away, any of your supporters who choose to visit our ground in support of their team will not be subjected to any pressure or abuse whatsoever. In addition we will be urging our own supporters to continue to travel to support the youngsters who are currently representing our Club on the pitch when we are not playing at home. So, we hope that we will be contributing financially to your club through such attendance.
Best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Chris Pilsbury
Chairman, City Fans United