Fears for future of historic Irish club
SIR MATT BUSBY WAS A MEMBER BUT NOW THERE ARE CONCERNS IT WILL BE SOLD OFF
MEMBERS of a longstanding Irish club fear it could be no more after concerns about its future have been met with silence.
When new trustees took control of the Chorlton Irish Club on High Lane in April last year, members heralded them as the ‘club’s saviours’ – but members are less optimistic about its future just eight months later.
Earlier this month, members sent an open letter to trustees expressing their frustration at the ‘lack of communication and clarity’ since taking over.
“As club members, we understand that the financial situation remains very challenging. It may be that you are now putting the club on a more sustainable path,” the letter signed by Chorlton Irish Club members said.
“Unfortunately members have had little communication from you and as a result there remains much concern about the club’s future.”
Before the new trustees came on board, the club was issued with an unpaid tax bill of £117,000 due to a ‘failure to manage the VAT accounts of the club.’
Members were also reportedly informed in June that there were also ‘very sizable debts’ in addition to the VAT bill.
Founded in the 1950s, the club became a focal meeting place for the Irish community and counted footballer Sir Matt Busby as one of its members. It soon became one of the most popular community venues in south Manchester. Sir Alex Ferguson, Peter Kay, John Bishop, Nathan Carter, and Mick Flavin are just some of the many famous names to have appeared at the club over the years.
In April, Trustees told the club that their first order of business would be to appoint a new Membership Secretary in order to help ‘enrol new and existing members.’ Despite this, online membership applications have remained closed and there are no further details available on how to join. An Annual General Meeting of members has also not taken place, despite being a requirement of the club’s constitution, and results of a financial assessment have not been shared.
The group say the club only appears to be open for pre-booked functions and is not putting on any events of its own.
This week, members feared the club could be sold after a private trustee document was shared showing the venue up for sale as a redevelopment opportunity. However, the M.E.N. has found the document to be a mock-up created last year as part of a draft sales brochure by a property company. The company involved said no further discussions on the draft had taken place. In August, the venue was listed as an Asset of Community Value (ACV) with the backing of MP Jeff Smith and local councillors.
A spokesperson for the Friends of Chorlton Irish group said: “The obvious concern is if the club is being allowed to wither away so that interest wanes, club memberships expire, and a lack of public support and deteriorating finances can then be cited as justification for closure.
“We understand that when the club was under threat last year around 200 people expressed their support by becoming members.
“Each of these people handed over £25 yet are being completely ignored as the club is being run without any accountability to its membership and contrary to its own rulebook.”
Trustees did not immediately respond to the M.E.N’s request for comment.
The obvious concern is if the club is being allowed to wither away so that interest wanes Spokesperson for Friends of Chorlton Irish Club