Kentish Football 
Paying overdue tax bill has taken the weight of my players' shoulders, says Jamie Day
Wednesday 15th December 2010
WELLING UNITED officially secured their future after their solicitors handed over the club’s overdue tax bill at The High Court in London today, writes Stephen McCartney.
Supporters of the Kent club contributed £64,900 within a fourteen day deadline to secure the Park View Road club’s future.
Dan Chapman, partner of Norwich based Leathes Prior Solicitors, confirmed late on Friday afternoon that the target was met and player-manager Jamie Day’s side played two games against Luton Town in the FA Carlsberg Trophy knowing their club was safe.
Mr Chapman issued the following statement to the club’s website www.wellingunited.com.
“I can confirm that the High Court has today formally dismissed the winding up petition which had been issued against Welling United Football Club. This marks the end of a difficult period in the Club's history, but it also marks the beginning of a new era.
“On behalf of the Club, I think it now appropriate to provide a little more detail on the current position, and on the way forward.
“In all, the fantastic efforts of the fans - by way of the loan scheme launched on 3rd December 2010 - raised £64,900. All of these monies were raised on the long term repayment basis (with the exception of the donation received from Welling United Appeal Fund and one short term loan), which allows the lender (should they wish to do so) to offset the granting of a season ticket against the annual repayment due. The Club will be establishing a Lending Group, to be represented by an appointed individual, to ensure that the repayments are properly administered and protected over time.
“Obviously some lenders advanced larger sums than others, and therefore their repayment interests will need to be considered for sometime. I will be ensuring the full details of all of the lenders and the sums advanced will be with that Lending Group representative in due course.
“As has been made public knowledge, the raising of funds to settle HMRC's petition debt in the manner we raised them was a last resort. The owners of the Club had for some time been seeking to sell the Club to an individual or a consortium that would be able to settle the Club's long and short term debts and to provide it with an exciting future. The last few weeks alone have made it abundantly clear that this Club should indeed have an exciting future.
“However, the owners of the Club entered into two separate negotiations throughout 2009/2010 (the second negotiation commencing after the first High Court hearing on 25th August 2010), both of which ultimately proved to be fruitless. One of the realities of football, and I can speak from the experience of assisting other clubs at various levels of this wonderful game, is that an awful lot of people purport to be interested in purchasing a football club or investing significantly therein; very few people, however, are actually in a financial position to do so.
“When it became apparent, after the due diligence process was underway, that the second proposed sale would not proceed, we were instructed to advise the Club with reference to the second High Court hearing that had been set for 1st December 2010. We were able to raise immediately, with the tremendous assistance provided by one individual who advanced a short term loan coupled with some initial fan loans, sufficient funds to persuade the Court that (contrary to the position adopted by the HMRC) the Club should be given further time to raise the necessary funds.
“We had also received, on the back of the publicity surrounding the Club's potential demise, an approach from another potential purchaser; but this time the purchaser was from a football background and appeared to be a more realistic prospect than the previous contenders. The individual concerned relayed a desire to clear all of the debts of the Club and to put investment in place which would afford the Club an opportunity to build a very prosperous future. We were able to provide the Court with a letter of intent from this purchaser which revealed that the Club might well have found another solution.
“It was always a close call as to whether the adjournment would be granted, and whilst ideally we wanted an adjournment that gave us until early in 2011 (so the Club could take advantage of the receipts of some of the forthcoming fixtures) we were nonetheless pleased to be given at least 14 days.
“It was then that the fans really stepped up to the plate and quite magnificently managed to raise the petition debt with a few days to spare, late last Friday.
“On that note, I would like to commend the quite magnificent part played by the 42 supporters who became lenders (who were crucially supported by a donation of £4,500 from the Welling United Appeal Fund).
“I think it is fair to say that there were many who doubted the likelihood of sufficient funds being raised, and it was a historic achievement that will live long in the memory. As momentum gathered, and more and more pledges were received, it was both exciting and humbling to be serving the Club and their fans throughout this momentous process. I am proud to have played a small part in what this Club has been able to achieve.
“So what happens now? It would be a mistake for the Club or any of its fans to believe that the troubled waters are now a distant memory. There are still debts to pay, liabilities to meet, and opportunities to explore. The Club must continue in my view, as it has over the last few weeks, to plan both for survival with its current ownership but to remain open to investment or sale to a genuine party.
“It is a matter of common sense that the Club is now in a far better to position to properly consider any offer it receives; negotiating from slightly calmer waters is always going to be more fruitful and affords the opportunity of proper reflection and due diligence. In addition, the Club will be putting in place a new constitution (for more on which see below) which will ensure that the input of all of the Club's stakeholders is obtained prior to any key decisions being made (which, of course, would include any proposed change in ownership).
“If there is not to be any sale in the near, medium or long term future then, of course, the Club will need to work with its officers and committees to do all it can to best exploit the football and non-football opportunities available to it.
“From the exposure to the Club that I have had over these last few weeks, to its incredibly loyal, generous and passionate fans, to its hard working and long serving owners and officers and to the players and manager who kept on doing their job despite the uncertainty I know one thing absolutely - the events of December 2010 will serve at all times to motivate all concerned that all necessary steps are always taken in the best interests of Welling United Football Club.
“I have often heard the saying that no football club, or any individual, is ever more important than the fans; whilst one grows cynical as to whether this adage rings true in the upper echelons of the game, it certainly has proven to ring true here and will remain, I am sure, to be the case.
“As has been stated previously, the Club has decided that it wishes to set up a new Representative Committee that will meet with, report to and be reported to by the Board (namely the owners Barry and Barrie Hobbins, the Chairman and Club Secretary). It is proposed that this Committee, and the new constitution related to it, will be established during January 2011. All fans, and indeed any individual at all, will have the opportunity to put themselves forwards for one of the posts on the Committee.
“More information on that process will be published in due course. The Club, in the interim (and with the excellent support of fan and accountant Robert Littlefield who I would particularly like to mention) will be finalising up to date financial information, attending to the priority short term liabilities and ensuring that accurate information is made available to the Representative Committee of its liabilities and future cashflow position.
“I am only left to say thank you for your support, and for those who were able to lend, I was and remain overwhelmed. I hope to be in a position to assist Welling United Football Club in the future, which would be both a professional and personal pleasure.”
Meanwhile, back-on-the-pitch, The Wings travel to Boreham Wood on Saturday and player-manager Jamie Day wants his side to bounce back following their brave couple of performances against Luton Town in the FA Carlsberg Trophy, which ended in a heartbreaking defeat last night.
They held The Hatters to a goal-less draw at Kenilworth Road last Sunday, riding their luck at times, but they took a lead through Luis Cumbers on the stroke of half-time in last night’s replay at Park View Road, but Richard Money’s side grabbed two goals in the last eight minutes to progress and they now welcome Uxbridge (who play three league’s lower than them) in the last 32.
“At the end of the day we need to get back to winning ways in the league and we’ve got to go there Saturday and get three points,” Day told www.kentishfootball.co.uk.
“We’ve got to take (our two performances against Luton) into our season and hopefully it will kick us on again now. Perhaps we can believe in ourselves and have a few more wins in the league and stay around the top six”
Day is delighted that today’s confirmation will ease the pressure off his players and inspire them to continue their impressive form for the remainder of the season.
“I think it also eases the players minds knowing they’ve got a job so hopefully that’s a little weight of their shoulders and we can concentrate on what we get paid to do and that’s play football.
“We want to do better than last year, which was ninth, although we’ve set a target of trying to get into the play-off’s.
“Hopefully we can add to the squad and freshen up a few things up and the players are capable of performing to that level so we have to try to get in there.”
Visit Welling United’s website: www.wellingunited.com
Boreham Wood v Welling United
Blue Square Bet South
Saturday 18th December 2010
Kick Off 3:00pm
At Meadow Park, Broughinge Road, Borehamwood, Hertfordshire WD6 5AL
Red Dragon I.T. Ltd