Astonishing statement as Scunthorpe owner pulls out and MOVES home games to Gainsborough

An astonishing statement has just dropped as Scunthorpe United owner David Hilton pulls out and MOVES home games to Gainsborough.

The National League North outfit’s owner and chairman David Hilton has withdrawn his funding of the club, confirming in a club statement on Thursday (28 September 2023).

The team will also play their home games at Gainsborough Trinity AFTER the upcoming fixture with Brackley Town on Saturday the 7th of October 2023.

Scunthorpe owner pulls out and moves matches to Gainsborough Trinity https://t.co/1twAT8yVyX

— Kieran Maguire (@KieranMaguire) September 28, 2023

CLUB STATEMENT:

The club Owner and Chairman has recently notified the Board of Directors of his decision to withdraw his funding from the club moving forward.

He has also notified them that he feels his position at the club is untenable, and is actively seeking a way out. Based on this information, both Ian Dawson and Tahina Akther have decided to resign from their positions with immediate affect.

We can confirm that numerous parties have made contact with the club with a view to taking over, but faced with stadium issues, numerous litigation proceedings and winding up petitions no potential purchasers are looking to move forward. This includes the consortium of local business people and supporters.

The Chairman and remaining board members have now set out a plan in order to very quickly make the club sustainable.

An outside company will be bought in to work closely with the club’s creditors to try and ensure all are paid in a timely and professional manner.

The club will vacate Glanford Park after the Brackley Town fixture and fulfill the season’s fixtures across at Gainsborough Trinity. This is not a day-to-day cost cutting exercise. This is due to Coolsilk refusing to engage with the club and demanding vacant possession before they will begin to do so.
This is also due to the risk the club faces of being liable for hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal fees and back dated market rent, along with significant monthly legal costs of our own that will certainly impact any attempts to create sustainability. In any case, Coolsilk own the property and will undoubtedly get possession back at some point, and therefore it is no longer viable without the financial support of the Chairman to put the club at risk with such a gamble to merely guarantee a few extra months at the stadium.

The club can confirm that Chairman David Hilton is under investigation by the FA for matters that were reported to them by The Athletic prior to releasing their article. Documentation is being provided to the FA in order to evidence the validity of his ownership rights and expect it to be concluded imminently.

Finally, numerous fake club statements and messages have been circulating in recent days. We can confirm that no investigation is currently taking place to our knowledge and that all of the material is completely fake. We are appalled by its content.

Moving forward, the club can progress and challenge for promotion as originally planned. The playing side can be left relatively untouched and the debts cleared, but it will require supporters, sponsors and the community to be patient and continue to support the club the way they have done over the last few months.

Falls in attendances will undoubtedly mean further cuts and this will inevitably impact the playing squad and promotion aims.

We hope that the support continues regardless of how uncomfortable some of the decisions feel or the inconvenience those decisions will cause.

GAINSBOROUGH STATEMENT

“Gainsborough Trinity FC are aware of a statement issued today by Scunthorpe United.

“This statement was issued without the knowledge or consent of Gainsborough Trinity.

“Whilst the club has always been clear that any requests from Scunthorpe United to play fixtures at the KAL Group Stadium would be considered, this would always have to be done by due process which would involve both clubs and the ground owner.

“The local SAG (Safety Advisory Group), Police and local authority would also need to issue the appropriate safety certificates, which are not currently in place.”

SEE MORE: Iron Trust issue statement as Scunthorpe United DELETE their Facebook and Twitter pages

This is what fans had to say on the astonishing statement as Scunthorpe owner pulls out and MOVES home games to Gainsborough…

@mgell1s: David Hilton, the saviour of Scunthorpe United, confirms that he’s killed Scunthorpe United.

@jimmyson82: Absolutely disgusting behaviour from a poor excuse of an owner. Football without fans is nothing. Sadly I think it’s the end of the road for Scunny, had some great rivalry with Lincoln over the years but would never want to see them fold.

@horner05: A 50 minute drive to watch Scunthorpe United at home 😢

@LewisBr42295907: can’t see a way back now

@Greeny5o1: Even though we knew it was coming, seeing it in black and white makes it so much more real and makes it hurt so much more.. I genuinely don’t think I’m emotionally stable enough to manage at the Brackley game knowing it could well be our last ever at GP. My heart is broken 💔😢

@lukecfc5: Feel sorry for your fans, gone from the Championship down to the National North and now you’re losing a ground with such history. Community assets shouldn’t be allowed to be run in this manner!

@adamf_99: This is disgusting, no club should have to go through this

@upthejunction28: What a mess – think it’s time you cut all ties and reformed from scratch.. so many people after you for money it’s probably the only way forward

@htafchero: But… but Todd Boehly is the worst chairman cry Chelsea fans

@ironphil: RIP Scunthorpe United absolutely gutted

@kevin_hurst: Really feel for the fans, it’s the fans that suffer the most and yet I see Man Utd fans moan about there owners

@BrewsLee3: I do believe Scunthorpe united will live on in some form or another. But it’s going to be a long dark depressing road. Fuck the gambler, and fuck the con man too. 😔

@CalSUFC15: What an utter shambles.

@harry_LFC6: Gone from bad to worse kin hell 🤦🏼🙈

@MrCallum011: Dave Hilton never show your face in Scunthorpe again. You’re a coward, a cheat and a liar.

@Mikey20Wright: How can the playing squad be untouched, promotion goals still on AND inevitable cuts to the squad?

@Jefc__1878: Horrible what’s happening at Scunthorpe, all caused by several owners who simply haven’t cared for years. Feel for the Scunthorpe fans.

@MrCallum011: To every Scunthorpe United fan currently wondering what’s happened. YOU WERE FUCKING WARNED ABOUT DAVID HILTON. I’m fucking heartbroken. I’m sat at work devastated.

@Macca_Hill96: David Hilton’s as weak as a chocolate fire guard. One article in the news and he’s quit. Fraud

@StephenRushton2: And it was only in January that they were “celebrating” being saved by the new owners. Shame to see clubs limping from crisis to crisis

@markpla24471277: These owners need to be properly vetted by the league’s hope they can get sorted

@Dandog180876: What a shambles

@ElBrethers: Sadly this could be it now for Scunthorpe United. 2 back to back shitbag owners. Gutted for their supporters are the heart and soul.