Northern Premier League club at risk of going bust

Northern Premier League club Worksop Town are at risk of going bust it has been revealed and emergency funding is needed from football fans.

The world’s fourth oldest football club, is facing potential closure due to outstanding debts of £30,000 which need paying by the end of the month.

Soccer Saturday presenter Jeff Stelling has promised to donate £100 to the Tigers’ cause whilst also appealing to others to help them out.

Worksop Town the worlds fourth oldest football club needs 30 k to survive. Can anyone help ?

— Jeff Stelling (@JeffStelling) February 3, 2020

The club issued a statement on their website: As a result [of facing potential closure], life President, Mr Keith Ilett, who has been actively involved with the club since 1970, has approached Mr Peter Whitehead, who owns the lease to Sandy Lane football ground, to ask if he would kindly take over the club as chairman.

Mr Whitehead has said that he will do so, provided that the club can raise £30,000 by the end of this month to help pay off debts.

Mr Ilett is now hoping that he can find 300 Tigers supporters, local people, local businesses, and members of the larger football family, to help finance the agreed sum by paying £100 each into a Worksop Town FC President’s Fund.

Last season, The Tigers won their first league title in 46 years, set a new club record of 22 successive wins, and attracted a crowd of 1,628 against Northern Counties Premier League promotion rivals, Penistone Church, to achieve promotion back to the Northern Premier League.

“I appreciate we have been here many times before, but sadly we have now reached another crisis point in the club’s history,” Mr Ilett said.

“Pete Whitehead is a football man with business acumen who is commit-ted to securing the future of the club, having already committed a substantial amount of money, but he insists the £30,000 be raised towards settling outstanding monies owed by the club. He has already invested a huge amount of his own time over the past two months, advising us and helping us with future planning.”

In response to Mr Ilett’s plea, Mr Whitehead has confirmed that an official plaque, in recognition of the names of those individuals and businesses who come forward to help save the club, will be placed in the clubhouse should he take over. Each person would also receive a club membership pass, which would entitle them to certain benefits at the ground.

“Peter has given us a clear target. I urge everybody who cares for our club to do whatever they can to help us. Thank you,” Mr Ilett added.

Further details of how to make contributions to the Worksop Town FC President’s Fund to help save The Tigers can be obtained from the following:

Keith Ilett, Life President, Worksop Town FC: 07734 144961; Mick Lowery, Treasurer, Worksop Town FC: 07931 5665087 (evenings only) or at TreasurerWTFC@gmail.com; Roger Mills, Secretary and Treasurer, Worksop Town FC Supporters Trust: 07590 609029

Fans have gave their reaction after finding out that the Northern Premier League club is at risk of going bust…

Why should it be down to the public to get them out of this mess? Why don’t the players agree to not get paid for a month/6weeks?

— Joey McCormack (@joeymac899) February 3, 2020

I was born in Northampton but spent 42 years working & living in Worksop. @worksoptown became my non-league team. We survived exile in Gainsborough, Hucknall, Ilkeston & Retford. Some SOB locked us out of our ground. That was just in last 30 years or so. We can do this #UTT

— Adie Richards (@grandadbaldy) February 3, 2020

Start a crowdfunding page or something similar. I'd happily chuck a tenner in to keep a classic old non-league club alive. All the best. ?

— Rob O'Neill (@Rob_ONeill) February 3, 2020

Paying silly money to players and not paying bills etc only ends up one way. Lets all get the buckets out and feel sorry for them once again ?

— Mitch (@Mitchwilson21) February 3, 2020

Terrible news . Great club .

— Kevin Cross (@KevinCr05537459) February 3, 2020

If you want to get club on correct footing and run it so it doesn't get in this mess again. Ask @TerryDamms58 to show how a club should be run. I've been around alot of clubs non can touch @StaveleyMWFC they have a vision a wage structure or and most importantly a future.

— Alan Williamson (@65f00befb9c7422) February 3, 2020

We're probably the world's 4th oldest football club,being formed in 1862,but l hope we don't become the third & l wish you all the best getting out of your financial plight. Something is wrong with football,too much money at the top, not enough at the bottom.

— Wendy Patrick (@pieorama2) February 4, 2020

Why do these debts appear at such frightening short notice ? They accrue over a period of time.Its bad fiscal management,nothing more nothing less.However I would be happy to donate to a crowd funding page as NL football is a vital community asset.

— Andy Viggars (@pubsmoker) February 3, 2020

How many bad business decisions does it take for a club like Worksop to be in that kind of position?

— Mark Hancock (@Scoobz847) February 3, 2020

It was only a matter of time!!

— Trevor Gaze (@boyarms1) February 3, 2020