Heed facing a cruel summer if ownership is not sorted
TAKEOVER UNCERTAINTY ADDS TO WOE
GATESHEAD players will become free agents this week as ownership talks continue.
While fears of a mass exodus have been played down, several players have already been linked to other clubs.
Leading scorer Danny Johnson was on York City’s radar earlier in the season and there will be no shortage of takers for the striker.
Other players in the squad are sure to attract interest, with manager Steve Watson aware of the forthcoming dangers.
Watson and assistant manager Micky Cummins are expected to remain in situ during the summer while takeover talks continue.
“The summer is an important period for any manager,” said Watson. “Obviously it’s a concern not having players tied down.
“It’s uncertain times for everyone at the club. Hopefully something will happen soon, but it could take six weeks or two months.
“All I can do is speak to the players I want to keep, tell them I want to offer them something and hope they hang fire.
“The longer it takes for new owners to come in the harder it will be. Players are concerned about their future and where they’ll be playing their football.
“I’ve had to clear their minds and get them to concentrate on their football since the club was put up for sale.
“The disappointing end to the season coincided with that news, while the postponements and backlog of games didn’t help.”
The concern is that clubs will come in for the Heed’s best players, and while the squad doesn’t need overhauling, it certainly needs strengthening.
A mass exodus would necessitate the former, something Watson is keen to avoid – if he is still in the Heed hot seat. Danny Johnson could well be scooped up in the summer. Below, South Shields chairman Geoff Thompson The former Magpie is unlikely to stick around if the club becomes part-time in a division made up almost entirely of professional clubs. New owners may want to put their own man in charge of team affairs, so many imponderables in muddy waters. What is crystal clear is that Gateshead need to submit a suitable budget for the 2018/19 season to the Football Conference finance committee on June 14. That’s less than seven weeks away – and the clock is ticking. Four interested parties are currently in discussions about taking the club over. For owners Richard and Julie Bennett, there are three options should a buyer not be found by the middle of June. They could reluctantly continue to back the club, although it would almost certainly be on a drastically reduced budget.
Another would be to request for the club to be voluntarily relegated down the pyramid, which would see them drop several divisions.
The worst case scenario would be to liquidate the club and Gateshead Football Club would cease to exist.
The current owners have bankrolled the Tyneside outfit to the tune of almost £3m during their three years at the international Stadium.
At least half a million would be needed each year to be competitive in the fifth tier of English football.
The Bennetts’ considerable backing did not get Gateshead into the National League play-offs and their decision to pull the plug has left the club at the crossroads. All avenues have been explored, including a merger with South Shields – but lightning will not strike for a third time. South Shields came lock, stock and barrel to Gateshead in 1930, giving the Heed 30 years in the Football League. When that club folded, history repeated itself in 1974 when South Shields, then a Northern Premier League club, again relocated to Gateshead. The new club, Gateshead United, lasted only three years before folding and being replaced by Gateshead FC. South Shields, bankrolled by multimillionaire Geoff Thompson, have just completed a third consecutive promotion as they rapidly climb the pyramid. Thoughts of a merger with Gateshead and playing at the International Stadium, or a new ground on South Tyneside, would bemuse supporters of both clubs, particularly Shields. The Mariners attract twice as many fans as Gateshead, although they could soon outgrow their compact Mariners Park stadium. Prospective investors are also likely to hold talks with Gateshead Council to identify the key to unlocking the club’s potential. The council own the Heed’s home base, Gateshead International Stadium, an 11,850 allseater facility, the second largest in the Vanarama National League. The surrounding land is also council-owned, the stadium and land a possible bargaining tool for some potential owners. Gateshead’s season ended yesterday. Matters off the pitch now needing to be brought to a satisfactory solution – ideally sooner rather than later.