Fort William FC future is secure

FEARS for the future of Fort William Football Club have been allayed this week after a ‘positive’ meeting on Monday night – but the club’s Highland League status remains in doubt, writes Neill Bo Finlayson.

Players, club officials and coaching staff met with the board on Monday night to discuss the future of Fort William Football Club (FWFC) amid pressure from Highland League bosses to make a decision on the club’s league status by the end of the month.

It was decided at the meeting that FWFC will continue to exist but its future may lie outwith the Highland League if it fails to secure ‘major financial investment’. As a result, the club is considering stepping down into the North Caledonian Football League.

Representatives of the club released a statement on Tuesday giving an update on the future of football in Fort William which said that ongoing talks with a new committee have been positive. That statement read: ‘In recent months the future of FWFC has been in doubt following the announcement that all six current directors were resigning at the end of the season. This news resulted in two public meetings aimed at generating interested people and ideas who would be willing to fill the void and help move the club forward. The outcome of these meetings has been positive and subsequent committee meetings, including new and existing committee along with current players and coaches, have been held to investigate the club’s future.

‘Without major financial investment, the Highland League is no longer a viable option and the new committee is investigating moving into the North Caledonian Football League. This would significantly reduce the financial burdens while increasing the competitiveness of the team. The committee are focused on the long-term future of the senior team and club facilities, along with and incorporating the fantastic youth system already in place.

‘The new club committee are holding one more public meeting on Tuesday April 24 at 7pm at the FWFC Social Club. This is a last opportunity for potential investors and volunteers to come forward and influence the club’s future. A final decision will be given to the Highland League on Tuesday May 1.’

Anyone with an interest in the club should get in touch with a committee member and attend the meeting next Tuesday.