FANS of Prestatyn Town announced their intentions to take control of the club after their Supporters Trust was officially launched.
The drastic action was taken after a large section of the team’s fanbase became disillusioned with recent events at Bastion Gardens, which saw a failure to secure promotion to the JD Cymru Premier, Neil Gibson stepping down as manager for a second time and much-loved players moving elsewhere.
The aim of the Trust is to ensure the football club is sustainable whilst remaining competitive, outward-looking whilst keeping local values and more importantly to hold to account anyone who claims ownership now or in the future.
Among the key issues the Trust is examining is campaigning on issues decided by the members and, by extension, the supporters of Prestatyn Town Football Club, in addition to establishing the most “democratic and representative fans group” for Town supporters.
They will also be tasking the club to “take proper account” of the interests of its supporters and the community, bringing about fan representation at board level.
The Trust will be embarking on community projects to strengthen their overall cause, which is to “hold a major and controlling shareholding in the club”.
The newly formed group are affiliated and governed by the Football Supporters Association, with the financial accounts “in the hands” of Harold Smith and Mark Foley is their interim treasurer. A Prestatyn Town Supporters Trust spokesman, said: “This is not a protest group, although our ultimate aim is to gain control of the club.
“This would ensure that, in future, the decision-making process is made by a group rather than one individual, especially financial decisions.
“We feel the burden of this is too much for one person, it leaves the future of the club balanced on the shoulders of one individual which causes decisions to be made under pressure.
“This cannot continue. We believe our current financial situation would prove this to be true.”
The news was met with a strong response from current Prestatyn Town chairman Jamie Welsh, who told The Journal that he was “very disappointed” with the Trust’s intentions.
“They all along openly said they would be good for the club but then let it be known the ultimate goal is to allow certain members to get control of the club again,” he added.
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