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

Iron Trust issue a statement as Scunthorpe United DELETE their Facebook and Twitter pages amid banning order controversy.

Scunthorpe United have allegedly been banning a number of their supporters who have been critical of chairman David Hilton.

The Iron currently play in the National League North, sitting 4th in the table, after the last two years saw back-to-back relegations.

And it seems problems off it have become much worse despite it initially looking hopeful when Hilton bought the club from previous owner Peter Swann in January and cleared their tax bill.

And for an hour or so on Tuesday (26th September), the club’s social media pages were got rid of, only to suddenly appear back, though it would seem users are blocked from being able to reply to any of their tweets after recent backlash to Hilton’s comments and the situation the club find themselves in.

It has become clear that the club remain in huge trouble with The Athletic releasing a report earlier this month which revealed that Hilton had previously been sentenced to two years in prison for 15 counts of fraud by false representation under a different name.

Screenshots of emails started emerging on Twitter on Monday (25th September), claiming to be from the club’s supporter liaison officer which read: “Good morning, the club would like to inform you of a banning order being placed on you with immediate effect. Kind regards.”

The FSA were contacted, and tweeted: “We’ve seen a lot of these in the past 24hrs. If you’ve received this email contact info@thefsa.org.uk

“Supporters should be free to make fair and legitimate criticisms of any club owner without fear of punitive bans. No exceptions.”

Host of podcast Iron Bru, Matt Ellis, had been one of those to be banned from attending matches at Glanford Park – a stadium still owned by Peter Swann as Hilton doesn’t believe it’s worth £3million.

Matt Ellis said on Twitter: “I just don’t recognise our club any more.”

He added: “Overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from Iron fans, and the wider football community.

“Fans will never be silenced by bullies or bad owners. The resounding response today is rejection of this type of character.

“I’ve been banned from the club I’ve supported all my life for ‘administering’ a forum. This is patently false. I have never at any point administered any type of football forum. This is a lie.

“The Iron Bru podcast will return and will continue to champion the best interests of Scunthorpe United. See you soon and stick together.”

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Another Twitter user @Greeny5o1 posted: “Punished because I tweet as myself and don’t hide behind a username/faceless account. Myself and my 13-year-old son, season ticket holders, home and away and because I have my own opinions my boy now suffers because I can’t take him to football. Gutted.”

Henry Winter, who is The Times’ chief football writer, said: “Another reminder of why the independent regulator needs to start asap.”

Lloyd Griffith, a well known match-going supporter of Scunthorpe’s rivals Grimsby, said in response to Iron Bru: “Oh mate, this is awful. So sorry to see this. Hope they see sense soon.”

David Hilton, who said last week that he was putting the club up for sale eight months after he bought it, has slammed the lack of support he’d received in now-deleted Facebook posts over the weekend.

The Iron Trust said: “Thanks to all those who have joined the Iron Trust over the last 24 hours. We have been inundated so please be patient with us as it will take a week or so to get membership stuff out. We will have news on the GP Asset of Community Value situation in due course. UTI

“Here in the United Kingdom we enjoy freedom of speech, which is everyone’s right whilst we at the Iron Trust do not condone the use of social media to attack organisations or individuals, neither can we condone the banning of supporters for daring to air their own opinions. Therefore, we urge the club’s owner to rethink the banning of several individuals. 

“Scunthorpe United Football Club is once again in crisis, and we must all pull together for the club. 

“It isn’t about any one individual it’s about the community of Scunthorpe and North Lincolnshire coming together to save their football club.

“People need to understand that at this moment in time for that to happen we must engage positively with the current owner, the former owner and any prospective owner that may come forward.

“Now is the time for Scunthorpe United fans everywhere to show their true iron and stand United for the future of our beloved football club.”

Days prior that, they also said in a statement: “Once again, our beloved Scunthorpe United Football Club is plunged into uncertainty as latest owner David Hilton puts the club up for sale.

“We at the Iron Trust are disappointed that the issues between the current and former owner could not be resolved amicably for the benefit of the footballing community of North Lincolnshire.

“The stumbling block appears to be around ownership of the ground which is still very far from resolved. Ideally the club and ground should be as one.

“Having a football club without a ground and a ground without a football club would be unsustainable as a business plan for any prospective new owner and ultimately the survival and longevity of Scunthorpe United Football Club.

“The Iron Trust is prepared to work with the FA, EFL National League, FSA and anybody else who shares our goal of securing Scunthorpe United Football Club and it’s Glanford Park Stadium. 

“On the field footballing performances have been positive, the team are playing attractive football with the added bonus of winning games, whilst the playing squad has strength in depth across all positions. 

“There is a feel-good factor around Scunthorpe United which is felt by the fans, the townsfolk and wider community of North Lincolnshire. 

“As ever we at the Iron Trust put the club first and will continue to support the Iron now and hopefully long into the future. Up the Iron.”

The FSA had their say on the situation at Scunthorpe on the 13th of September, which read: “Supporters have heard the phrase “Fan-led Review” many, many times now and you might be wondering why it’s still so important, now the immediate threat of the European Super League has receded?

“The answer is that the review was never just about the top end of the game – and ownership shenanigans playing out now at clubs like Scunthorpe United and Southend United spell out exactly why action is urgently needed.

“Last week the Government reaffirmed its commitment to the Fan-led Review’s core ideas and we expect to see it included in November’s King Speech with legislation passing through Parliament in 2024.

“Here at the FSA we have campaigned for stronger regulation of the game for many years and made sure supporters’ groups across all leagues were able to give their evidence – resulting in proposals which will include an independent regulator with powers to act before clubs are losing the plot financially.

‘That’s something we back 100% and it has to go alongside a much stronger Owners’ and Directors’ Test (aka the “fit and proper person test”) to make sure our clubs get the owners they deserve.

“We’re not sure the football authorities can always say that is the case at present.

“An investigation published this week by The Athletic highlighted serious concerns at Scunthorpe United where someone they say is a convicted fraudster was allowed by the FA to purchase the club.

“David Hilton, who is also alleged to have gone by the names David Anderson and David White, started a two-year prison sentence for fraud in April 2015, according to The Athletic’s forensic investigation.

“It’s worth pointing out that many Scunthorpe United supporters were willing to give Hilton the benefit of the doubt, as previous owner Peter Swann was deeply unpopular, and the club currently sit second in the National League North. Far lower than their historic position but winning games regularly for the first time in years.

‘Everyone deserves a right to reply and at this point we were going to link to the full statement which David Hilton made via Soundcloud – but it seems to have been deleted. A partial transcript is available via The Business Desk.

“Despite previous denials he now admits to serving nine months in prison for fraud and says he paid back £68,000. “It was completely the wrong decision. I’m completely embarrassed by it but it happened,” says Hilton. 

“People deserve a second chance in life and Hilton’s conviction is “spent” but that doesn’t mean that anyone with any conviction can walk into any job. There are many crimes which will debar you from many different jobs.

“And given the enormous community value of our clubs there’s a strong case that being an owner is one such “job” whereby certain convictions could indicate that a person is not “fit and proper” to own a football club.

“The Athletic says that it is “unclear” if Hilton complied with the FA’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test. The form is not publicly available and the FA said: “We are aware of these serious allegations and are looking into them.” 

“Mr Hilton has left a number of questions unanswered and the FA and the National League need to respond urgently.

“This case clearly shows the Owners’ and Directors’ Test has to be strengthened and enforced by an independent regulator – and it’s not just us saying that.

“Last week the Government released A Sustainable Future – Reforming Club Football Governance which started to spell out how the legislation will work.

“The review found examples of “unsuitable custodians, including owners with long histories of business bankruptcies, owners with serious criminal convictions, owners later imprisoned for crimes including money laundering”. 

“How has football let this happen? 

“To tackle these problems an independent regulator will be tasked with implementing a “fitness and propriety test”, ensuring prospective owners actually have the cash they claim to own, while also demanding “robust” financial plans. 

“Action can’t come soon enough.”

This is what fans are saying as the Iron Trust issue a statement with Scunthorpe United taking to DELETE their Facebook and Twitter pages…

@crogger123: If you have any interest at all in the fortunes of Scunthorpe United may I respectfully suggest considering joining @IronTrust £10 life membership.

@MEJ7791: We’re an absolute comedy club.

@Mark74NUFC: Wow. Feel for their fans.

@dannybolton23: Scunthorpe are fucked, this guys a nutter

@garysjackson: When a club starts to ban and threaten to ban fans simply over criticism it can only lead to trouble.

@ScunnyGary: Oh well… another day in the life of a Scunthorpe United supporter

@FMOutsideTheBox: Nothing more infuriates me more than when football owners have zero feelings towards the die-hard fans. This Scunthorpe Utd situation is bloody awful. Time and time again we have seen similar situations over the years. Look at Bury, Southend etc. Hope it gets resolved asap #Iron

@dontmswithme: Stuff coming out of Scunthorpe brings back horrible deja vu of bad owners in tandem. Solidarity to their fans, hope find a way through. 4 years from our expulsion where is the Regulator & lessons learnt? Well done to the Bury fans who raised the alarm when DH sniffed round us

@alenbardet: Jesus the mess at Scunthorpe really puts things in to perspective. Another great club being destroyed. Makes me feel grateful for what we have now at #ycfc that could have easily been us.

@Heed_Army: Fear the worst for them

@LiamGreen___: Scunthorpe Twitter gone. What the fuck is going on

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