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Discontent and concerns grow with letter sent to 7th tier club over owner’s stewardship

Discontent and concerns grow with a letter sent to 7th tier club Blyth Spartans this week over the owner’s stewardship.

A new beginning or a false dawn? ‘Good times ahead’ was what was said for Blyth Spartans as the new chairman Irfan Liaquat eyed the Football League back in February 2024 when the takeover was announced.

He came in and just a few months later, saw the club relegation to the Northern Premier League Premier Division). A lot of hard work needed on and off the pitch to try and meet that ambition.

He broke his silence, telling supporters he is committed to “delivering a successful outcome next season”.

Ex-Premier League player Nolberto Solano has since been appointed as their new manager, making headlines across the country.

Now fans have expressed their worries for the future of Blyth Spartans, questions on the running of the club, worried for the direction it’s heading.

Martin Calladine (@uglygame) has done a brilliant Twitter thread worth checking out, looking into the owner. See more of that HERE or further down in this article below the fan reaction section to the letter.

LETTER TO THE CLUB:

Evening all, below is a copy of a letter to send to the football club this evening. Feel free to have a read of it if you so wish.

Dear Mr Irfan Liaquat/Laiquat,

I’m writing this to you today as quite frankly, I feel as though the football club we all hold dear to our hearts, appears to be in a shambolic state at the moment.

As supporters, over the last 5 years, we’ve witnessed this football club circling the drain. Fighting off relegation time and time again before finally succumbing to it just a few months ago. It has truly been difficult and outright dejecting at times, watching a famous non-league institution that we all adore, struggle in this fashion.

Over the last 5 years, we’ve lost close to 60% of our league games, witnessed some humiliating defeats and thrown away countless games, on top of being dumped out of the FA Cup and FA Trophy embarrassingly more times than I care to remember. Ultimately, being relegated on the final day of the season in that fashion, was the crowning moment that topped off the 5 years of misery we’ve been forced to bear witness to.

Despite all that though, we’ve been there every step of the way. We all care very deeply about this football club and its community, which many of us have been ingrained in for years. Blyth Spartans AFC has been quite literally the bedrock of a lot of people’s lives for years. A day at the match is something we all look forward to after a hard week at graft, no matter who we’re playing or where we’re going. For most of us, it’s the centerpiece of our social circles, giving us a chance to meet up and spend time with friends and family, meet people and even make new friends. For some people, it’s quite literally all they have.

For me, it’s been all of that and more. Over the years I’ve certainly had my struggles with mental health issues, however, this football club and the people around it have usually been a respite from all that. Over the last 15 years or so, I’ve been able to gain skills and confidence I never could have gained in any other environment through the work I’ve done here and the experiences I’ve had following this football club.

I know I won’t be alone in feeling that way as well. I’m sure many other supporters and volunteers will feel that way or have similar experiences, and many more will in the future. This football club and the experience it can give people is quite simply a true asset to the local community and one of the only things that is capable of bringing the town of Blyth and the surrounding areas together.

Ultimately, every one of us takes immense pride in the club. We want nothing more than to see it succeed on and off the pitch. We want to see a team and a manager show as much dedication to this football club as we do. We want a football club that respects supporters and is open and transparent about how it’s running and includes supporters in key decision-making.

I think a lot of people would agree with me in saying, that for a while now, we haven’t had a lot of that.

So, when the news broke that you had taken over the club back in February, we (the Green Army) were simply delighted. While just about every supporter had a level of respect for Tony and Kev, many felt that the time was right for them to step aside and hand over the reins to someone else. So, you can imagine just how excited we were when you came along and talked about growing the club on and off the pitch, hinting at investing in the club and even talking about plans to fire us into the Football League, and even at one point talked about Championship!

Naturally, due to your business history and your company’s house record with various profiles on there, a chunk of supporters and members of the press were extremely skeptical about your arrival, which we could understand. However, we defended you and encouraged supporters to give you and your team a chance to make a positive impact on the place. Sadly, nearly 4 months on from that takeover party, the opposite appears to have happened and most of your doubters have been proven right.

In recent months, you’ve disrespected players, coaching staff, volunteers and supporters – as well as the former ownership with your comments in the press and in private messages on Instagram to supporters. For weeks now we’ve gone without any real news or updates, creating a lot of anxiety and doubt about you and your team’s ability to run and finance this football club.

Ultimately, supporters do not want to have a contentious relationship with you. We want to work with you and help you and your team, to develop this football club and ensure supporters feel involved going forward. Ultimately though, due to the lack of communication from you and the rest of the team, as well as the treatment of some people in our community, we appear to be a long way from that.

I implore you to begin being honest and transparent about the running of the football club and your plans for the future. We don’t want to hear about a vague bullet-pointed 5-year plan. We want real and transparent information about how you plan to take this football club forward.

We as a Supporter’s Group and Supporter’s Trust, want to support you going forward however, if you continue to run the football club the way you have in recent months, we simply cannot do that.

Dan Rolls

Blyth’s Green Army

As mentioned, discontent and concerns grow with a letter sent to the 7th tier club over the owner’s stewardship…

@isaac_mccourt: well spoken mate, clubs a fucking joke right now it’s about time we speak up

@MickScully7: Still relatively early days under the new owner, but I would recommend speaking to @GatesheadFCSoul for advice, should the worst happen… The fans deserve better.

@HeedFan: As a heed fan, we know know the frustrations your going through. An excellent letter to those involved at the top, I sincerely hope they dont turn a deaf one on you, like we got. Rivalry aside, I sincerely hope your not gonna go through what we did. Good luck to you all.

@Mgp2706: Well said @DanRolls7 👏🏼 Hope it picks up for you lot asap 🤞🏻

@UTM_Mariners: I genuinely worry for the club, since the news broke of the takeover I’ve been extremely skeptical. I hope it all comes out in the wash, and you get some clarity on what the immediate future holds first, before talk of a 5 year plan.

@filing_iron: 6 months ago this could’ve been written by a Scunny fan. Wishing Blyth fans All the best with getting to the bottom of it as something clearly isn’t right.

@davison_brian: Great letter Dan, we 100% agree with your comments and suggestions, here’s hoping for a positive reply.

@Km16Mitch1019: Well said… truly sums up exactly how lots of the supporters are feeling at this time

@RussJW79: Well said Dan. Agree with every word.

@tp74s: Well put, let’s hope the powers that be pay attention. Finally a signing today. 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

@markycro90: Worded fantastic, be interesting to see if he take some time to reply! Or it just falls on deaf ears like everything else ATM.

@MccourtIain: Dan, that letter was, as you said, from a lot of fans. Blyth Spartans means a hell of a lot to so many people. You have worded that absolutely perfectly. I’m sure I speak on behalf of all fans. Well said and well done. Behind you 100%. Best wishes my friend.

@bafc_lancaster: All the best to you, Spartans 👍

@DavidGo41139942: Thank you Dan, word perfect 🟢⚪️

@Grimmy16: Absolutely spot on! Well said!

@Heed_Army: A beautifully crafted letter, I hope they get some answers soon. They might be the old rivals but christ, no ones wants to see cala 2.0. Keep pushing you answers lads and lasse!

@PeterFarquhars8: Completely agree.

@afckitman: Let’s wait with bated breath for a honest reply

@cammish_david: I’m sorry. One look at this geezer when he came over the horizon should have been enough. Far from being delighted at his arrival and embracing his B/S you should have been chasing him out of town.

@trevk37: Excellent, well written letter, concerning times at Blyth and disappointing to be having to keep an eye on another situation that doesn’t bode well.

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