There is fresh hope for Hednesford Town after a late turn of events could see the at-threat club and their league place saved.
The Pitmen, who resigned from their division after the failed takeover attempt at the club, will find out on Friday if they can compete in the Northern Premier League West for the 2023/24 season.
The decision to pull out looked to put an end to any hope of playing in the next term, and also seriously questioned the future of a 143-year old club.
A new group are plotting to rescue Hednesford, as per Express & Star, and they hope that their efforts will be enough to allow them continue to play.
In recent days, officials from the League confirmed that extensive discussions had been held with both the club and FA, with the latter to decide on the club’s re-admission at a Friday morning meeting.
The surprise turn of events came just six days after the club had announced that it would withdraw from the league due to the failure of a takeover proposal by Staffordshire businessman Gary Hartland.
He had agreed in principle to buy both the club and ground which were owned separately, but has since backed out citing “complexity” of the transaction.
In February, vice-chair Haydo Dando and chairman Graham Jones announced their intentions to leave with former chairman Steve Price still owning the stadium, having sold it to the two in early 2020.
Jones resigned as a director of HTFC Ltd on Wednesday (31 May), the company that ran the club during the last season. Dando replaced him, and now has complete control.
Writer Andy Mitchell (@sirandymitchell), tweeted on the same day about the twist: “A deal has been tabled to rescue Hednesford Town with the aim of playing at Step 4 in the forthcoming season
“The club is set to discover its fate on Friday.
An insider at Keys Park says the club has been given until 5pm tomorrow (Thursday, June 1) to sort out a deal and meet the FA’s conditions in order to play in Northern Premier League West in 23-24.
A meeting has been scheduled for Friday morning to decide whether Hednesford has met the FA’s criteria and club officials are “confident” they have ticked all the boxes
While reluctant to name individuals, the takeover is said to involve people from within the club.
It was announced last Thursday that Hednesford would drop out of the National League System for 23-24 following the collapse of a proposed takeover. Chair Graham Jones and vice-chair Hayden Dando announced in February that they would be walking away at the end of April.
Our source did not comment on how involved stadium owner Steve Price, who was Hednesford chairman until 2020, would be aside from his role as landlord but said he has done “everything in his power” to help save the club since last week’s bombshell.
One final and interesting thing to note, Companies House shows current/outgoing chair Graham Jones yesterday relinquished his role as the only director of & his shares in HTFC Limited, the company that ran Hednesford last season
Vice-chair Hayden Dando now has full control (6/6) pic.twitter.com/VqE2bVdOvC
— Andy Mitchell (@sirandymitchell) May 31, 2023
This is what Twitter users said amid hope for Hednesford as a late turn of events could see the club and their league place saved…
@ChoirboyDave: If it isn’t possible for them to stay in @SouthernLeague1 Division One Central, don’t see any problem with that happening, then possibly the @MidlandLeague as that is currently two clubs short. Hopefully they will be able to stay where they are as it is before the SL AGM.
@BradAllen23: Fingers crossed guys
@jonathanmhood: OMG. I hope the FA allow this to go through. I might be able to get some sleep soon.
@wolvesbradders: Here’s hoping 🤞🏻
@miguelinho2910: Fingers crossed for Hednesford that all goes well with the takeover and they’re able to play in the coming season Keys Park was possibly the first non-league ground I went to when Latics won 4-2 there in the FA Cup in 2000. Hope to see them there in the NPL West in a few months!
@OzDelanty_94: Hopefully some positive news to come out is this, don’t want to see Hednesford Town disappear altogether
@Lotus72avfc: Great News
@VikkiJayne80: Fingers crossed for some good news.
@Jake__Kimberley: Good to see if it goes through.
@jomcdonnell233: Hope this works out for them
@stfcinbmth: Hope this all gets sorted
@ftgotw: Best of luck to Hednesford sincerely hope they survive this, it’s criminal to see local clubs like @Hednesford_Town in this position We all need to support our local communities whoever club we follow Quote- You make more friends than enemies in football – Mr John Sylvester
@VikkiJayne80: Im keeping my fingers and everything else crossed for some good news. Need it after last week.
@BFerraby7: Fingers crossed for this outcome🤞🏻
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