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Chairman criticises Farsley Celtic Supporters Club after delivering vote of no confidence

Chairman Paul Barthorpe criticises Farsley Celtic Supporters Club after a statement delivering a vote of no confidence.

Fans of the village club says it won’t be around much longer under the current chairman, who has been the owner for last five years.

Tensions have been escalating between the fans and the chairman, with disagreements focusing primarily on the ongoing issues with the club’s pitch at The Citadel, which hasn’t seen significant work for months, meaning the team have had to play games away from home.

The supporters also express frustration over a lack of updates and communication regarding the pitch issues and groundshares, most recently at Buxton, which is nearly 70 miles away.

Farsley were also played under a National League embargo in September for non-compliance with financial regulations.

The impact on the team’s training, with the men’s senior team only able to practice once a week due to the pitch unavailability.

The supporters’ concerns also worsened by a previous statement from the players indicating their loyalty had been pushed to the breaking point due to issues with wage payments, yet Barthorpe claims it’s the fans that are upsetting the players.

FARSLEY CELTIC SUPPORTERS CLUB STATEMENT:

Farsley Celtic Football Club Supporters Club (FCFCSC) Meeting — 6th November 2024

In order to respond to the feelings of members and to show support and solidarity with our players, staff and other key stakeholders in Farsley Celtic Football Club, the FCFCSC held an open meeting for members to debate the serious issues currently facing our Club.

A vote of confidence/no confidence in the current Chairman of FCFC was taken.

Each of the items listed below were discussed in an open forum of members.

The motion of no confidence was put to the meeting and was unanimously accepted. There were no abstentions and no votes against the motion.

All members present supported the motion which was carried.

The motion was proposed and seconded by Supporters Club members.

Motion: The FCFCSC has no confidence in the current Chairman of Farsley Celtic Football Club Mr Paul Barthorpe being able to adequately manage or protect the interests of Farsley Celtic Football Club in the short or long term.

The reasons for the movement of this motion are as follows:

1. Farsley Celtic FC has been unable to utilise the Citadel pitch since April 2024. almost seven months ago. Supporters were told that the pitch replacement works would take 6-8 weeks to complete. There has been no significant work on the pitch for over five months.

2. The men’s senior team has played 28 consecutive away games placing an unreasonable burden on staff, players and supporters.

3. The FCFCSC has no confidence in the statements made by the Chairman regarding the recommencement of the delayed pitch works. The FCFCSC considers that trust has been broken between the Chairman and stakeholders as the Chairman has continually been unable to action any of the promises or commitments made regarding the recommencement of ground works.

(Note: On 18.07.24 a chairman’s update stated that work would be completed and that Farsley would play Leamington at the Citadel on 21st September — that never happened. On 23.08.24 a chairman’s update stated the first home game at the Citadel would now be Spennymoor on 19.10.24 — this also never happened. On 14.09.24 a Chairman’s Update definitively stated that contractors would be on site in the week commencing 23.09.24 — this too never happened. The Update of 14.09.24 also stated that pitch works would be-finished well in time for the Spennymoor game’ — this obviously never happened. The Chairman chose to announce in an article in the Non-League Paper on 27.10.2024 that “we should have a restart date in the next few days’ — two weeks later this restart date has still not been communicated to fans.)

4. Having already played ‘home’ games at Hallam FC. Alfreton, Guiseley, BPA this season the Chairman has now decided that the men’s senior team will play ‘home’ games in Buxton, 70 miles away from Farsley, at least until Christmas. This decision was made without consultation with players or the Supporters Club. The disruption of the move to Buxton has angered key stakeholders and was stated by Tom Allan as a reason for his departure from the Club. This decision of the Chairman to relocate to Buxton has caused serious concern amongst several senior players and staff. The FCFCSC has no confidence that the Chairman can ensure the continued loyalty of the current squad, staff and supporters.

5. The Club has been under a National League embargo since 23rd September 2024 for non-compliance with League financial regulations. This impeded the effective functioning of the squad and placed the team at a serious competitive disadvantage during this period.

6. The FCFCSC has no confidence in the Chairman and CEO’s ability to improve relationships with supporters. On 14.09.24 in a Club Statement CEO stated that ‘one of my primary goals is to bridge the gap between the Club and the community”. It is the view of the FCFCSC that relations between the Chairman. Board and the supporters have seriously deteriorated since then and have in fact never been worse. The FCFCSC has no confidence that the current Chairman or CEO can meaningfully improve or strengthen relationships with supporters.

7. The FCFCSC has no confidence in the Chairman to accurately or honestly inform stakeholders regarding the financial condition of the Club. to provide honest explanations for the late, irregular and incomplete payment of staff and certain suppliers or to respond to supporters’ views and concerns appropriately or professionally.

8. The FCFCSC has no confidence in the Chairman to ensure the future full and regular payment of players. On 21.10.24 The Yorkshire Post published a statement attributed to the Club’s players claimed that loyalty had been pushed to ‘breaking point’ over the on-going issue late payment of wages to players.

9. The FCFCSC has no confidence in the Chairman to ensure the future full and regular payment of bar staff and other employees of the Club. Several staff are still owed significant arrears of pay.

10. In a Chairman’s Update dated 14th September 2024 the Chairman stated that “as it’s (the Club’s) owner I have a duty of care to my staff.” Given the extent of the failure of the Chairman to pay certain players and staff regularly, fully and on time, the FCFCSC has no confidence that the Chairman can fully deliver his duty of care to staff.

11. The FCFCSC has no confidence in the Chairman being able to make full and prompt future payments to key suppliers.

12. Pitch unavailability and funding issues have resulted in the men’s senior team only being able to practice once a week and the women’s and deaf senior sides have been forced to fund pitch hire themselves and meet all their own operational costs. The FCFCSC has no confidence that the current Chairman can or will adequately fund and support the men’s, women’s and deaf sections in order to maximise their chances of success. FCFCSC — 06.11.24

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT (via T&A):

“From our point of view, the FCFCSC have no direct affiliation with the club.

“They are a supporters’ group who do pay a membership fee but it’s the same dozen or so people who’ve been posting negative content about us on social media for months.

“What they don’t seem to realise is that we’re united as a club.

“They talk about others, like players, staff and volunteers being on their side, but they’re actually upsetting players with what they’re saying.

“It’s damaging the club as suppliers and sponsors are ringing us worried, thinking the club is a mess.

“The only issue is the artificial pitch, which will be getting laid and is something I’ll happily discuss with the T&A once it is down.”

Twitter users reacted as the chairman criticises Farsley Celtic Supporters Club after delivering a vote of no confidence…

@linda_tarling: Wishing FCFC all the best for the future.

@Stephenken68425: Chairman determined to ruin a famous old club best wishes to all FCFC fans

@RhiannaHTAFC: This village club means so much to the supporters but it won’t be around much longer under the current chairman, this statement is so important, wishing Farsley all the best 💚 #nonleaguefootball #farsleyceltic

@RossKettlewell7: Should’ve gone years ago. Barthorpe out.

@mattyhumpleby: #BarthorpeOut

@jimmtweet: Good luck to Farsley Celtic hopefully you will get the result you want and the club can move forward again ⚽️👍

@AffiliatesStop: Interesting read I know I had a laugh with fall over Farsley in the past. But hopefully something can get sorted

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