A local council has bought a football ground for £300k to save Northern Premier League side from potential expulsion.
Prescot Cables are a fan-owned club but it’s future was under threat after they were told by their landlord they could not extend their lease.
Since then, Knowsley Council have stepped in to purchase Volair Park for £300,000 and granted the club a 99-year lease.
Knowsley Council Secures Future of Prescot Cables Football Club https://t.co/zwl5Gk4Wxq pic.twitter.com/B07WdP7bu8
— Prescot Cables F.C. (@PrescotCablesFC) December 20, 2018
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(above photo by dannymroberts on Instagram)
Leader of Knowsley Council, Cllr Graham Morgan said, as quoted on the club website: “Prescot Cables Football Club has been a huge part of the town since 1884 and it would have been a terrible blow if the club had to close its doors. As soon as we knew the club was experiencing difficulties over the lease, we have been in discussions with them to help find a solution.
“By securing the purchase of the ground and putting this lease agreement in place, the council has been able to help the club stay open and to remain in the heart of the Prescot community. This agreement will also give the club the opportunity to explore options to raise more revenue and to secure grant funding.
“For the Council, it made absolute sense to get involved. By investing in the Club we will be supporting a valuable local asset and importantly we will also recoup all of our investment, through an annual rental payment from the club.
“Knowsley Council is currently delivering on our ambitious plans to transform Prescot into a thriving and attractive cultural, leisure and independent led retail destination and Prescot Cables plays an important part of this.
“I am pleased to have been able to secure the future of this much loved and valuable community asset for Prescot, Knowsley and indeed the wider region.”
The chairman of Prescot Cables said: “The Board of Directors are delighted that we have been able to sign this new lease agreement which will secure the long term future of Prescot Cables Football club here in Prescot.
“We have been playing at the ground since 1906 but we have never before had the security of a 99 year lease.
“We would like to extend our thanks to Knowsley Council for their support and their commitment to helping us to remain in the heart of the community and to continue to support local residents and the rest of the town.”
Since learning if the news, football fans of the non league community took to Twitter to praise Knowsley Council for ‘secure the future of an historic football club in its borough’ – take a look at what more people had to say on the next page.
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