Woodley Sports would like to make the following Press Statement:
Following the announcement made yesterday, Thursday 30th April 2009, that Stockport County FC had gone into administration, Woodley Sports FC would like to make public the knock on effect this has on the club.
In December 2005, Woodley Sports sold Liam Dickinson to Stockport County in a deal that included a 20% future sell on clause.
When Liam was then transferred to Derby County in the summer of 2008 for a sum reported to be about �750,000 Woodley Sports approached Stockport County to enter into negotiations for the payment of this clause.
From that day until yesterday, Woodley Sports have assisted Stockport County by agreeing to defer the whole payment due, based on Stockport County's inability to release the whole amount due and agreed to a payment plan spread over two years.
Yesterday's announcement effectively has terminated this arrangement and leaves Woodley Sports with a substantial amount of money owed to them.
Woodley Sports have enjoyed a very good relationship with Stockport County in recent years and their soccer academy are the main hirer at the Neil Rourke Stadium, with over 300 youngsters enjoying professional coaching three nights a week, under Stockport County's academy name.
With this academy now being disbanded on Wednesday evening, not only is the future looking bleak for these young children, but Woodley Sports have to assess whether they can survive this loss of major funding.
An emergency board meeting took place last night, following which Chairman Tony Whiteside has stated that the future of Woodley Sports FC is in grave doubt.
"For a club of our size, operating on an annual turnover of �75k, the loss of this income is devastating. I had secured the club's short term future for the next three years with this money, enabling me to build a football club that promotes local youngsters and field three teams each weekend at Unibond Division One North, Lancit Lancashire League and the North West Youth Alliance League. Exciting plans in the summer to extend links with Stockport College in bringing on board two College Teams at U18's and U21's are now in serious doubt."
"The Directors of Stockport County have known all along what this money meant to a club of our stature and we continued to support them throughout their financial difficulties by agreeing not to pursue the whole payment up front. I am very disappointed at the moment and have to address all the players and staff at next week's presentation evening.
In the present economic climate I just don't know how we can replace this loss and the next few days are going to decide our future."
Tony Whiteside
Chairman
Woodley Sports FC
Tel: 077787 66382
Fax: 0161 406 5597
EMail: woodleysportsfc@btinternet.com
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