SPARKS FLY AS HEED FAITHFUL BITE BACK
‘We must stick together’ says mega-rich chief
ANGRY Gateshead fans are set to meet to discuss the club’s recent off-field issues – and two leading supporter groups have offered their backing.
Supporters Direct and the Football Supporters Federation are to be represented at a meeting that will take place later this week. It comes after days of off-field turmoil that has threatened to derail the club’s surprise National League play-off chase.
Defender Fraser Kerr was sold to Hartlepool United on Wednesday – just hours after Heed manager Ben Clark was informed of the deal. The club then rejected an offer for captain Scott Barrow from National League rivals Harrogate Town – only for Barrow to reveal his services were then offered to other clubs by an agent working for the club’s financial advisor Joseph Cala.
And on Friday the club failed to persuade the National League to lift a transfer embargo that has been in place since September. Gateshead travelled to yesterday’s game at Aldershot Town with just 14 outfield players available, a game they won 2-0.
A joint Supporters Direct and Football Supporters Federation statement read: “The Football Supporters Federation and Supporters Direct are concerned about the involvement of Joseph Cala at Gateshead. We are aware of his background and attempts to enter English football at both Portsmouth and Morecambe where local fans questioned his motives. Our organisation supports football fans across the country and will offer help and assistance to concerned Gateshead fans, and we look forward to attending their meeting this Thursday.”
GATESHEAD owner Ranjan Varghese says the club needs crowds of over 2,000 at the International Stadium – a 300 per cent increase – in order to achieve their ambitions.
Despite operating under a transfer embargo since December, the Heed have maintained their surprise push for a play-off spot.
But the departure of manager Steve Watson to York City and recent sales of Scott Boden and Fraser Kerr, have left new chief Ben Clark with just 14 outfield players to pick from and prompted increased concern amongst fans over the club’s future.
Varghese acquired the club from Richard Bennett in August after paying a £200,000 bond with the National League.
He met with league chiefs on Friday in an attempt to have their transfer ban lifted, which proved unsuccessful.
The Hong Kong-based businessman will now provide the league with a revised budget and has called on people of the town to support the club and boost ailing attendances.
“The league explained the rules and specified what we as a club need to do in order to lift the embargo and release the bond,” the owner said.
“We will be working closely with the league in order to give them confidence in the financial stability of the club. I felt the meeting was positive and the National League has guaranteed their support of the club while providing advice and mentorship.
“Our revised budget will be reviewed and then a decision regarding the bond and transfer embargo will be made.
“We need strong fan support as everyone is aware that to make this club consistently sustainable, we need the support of at least 2,000 fans which would help take the club to new heights.
“Despite the difficulties we face as well as the extremely low match attendances, we have worked hard in order to achieve financial sustainability and we are very close to achieving this so that the club survives on its own without external help or investment.”