Owner Munroe is stepping down at Basford
CHRIS Munroe, the owner and chairman of Basford United, is retiring after more than 15 years at the club.
He joined Basford as manager in 2006 before becoming the owner and will now market the club for investment as it “aims to enter the next stage of its expansion and progression”.
For now, the Munroe family will remain 100 per cent legal owners and directors of the club.
A Basford United statement says this “will ultimately provide a level of financial support over the remainder of the 21/22 and complete 22/23 season, as the club’s ownership structure evolves”.
Munroe admits the disruption from the coronavirus pandemic has hit the club and his finances “very hard”.
In a statement, he said: “The decision my family has taken has been thought out over the last two months and caps the beginning of the end of the most glorious spell for me since joining Basford United in 2006 as manager, and ultimately chairman and owner.
“Almost every single year has been sensational with vast success and I can truly look back over this 16-year period as the best years of my football life that has spanned 50 years.
“Without question, the last two curtailed seasons have hit the club, my ambition and pocket very hard; without question, I firmly believe we would have achieved promotion without these circumstances.
“However, now it is time for my family to pursue other interests out of football which we are just as excited about.
“The club model is so unique, with 75 years remaining on the ground lease, a four hectare site, a highquality full-time academy and an ever-growing junior and youth phase, which means we have a very sustainable business model, and the club is prime for expansion.
“The ultimate dream remains to continue upwards to the National League and, ultimately, the Football League.
“Unfortunately, if I were 10 years younger, this would fit perfectly for me but I am not, and my timing and that of the clubs lends itself to someone coming in to fulfil this ambition.
“With the club achieving five promotions and firmly positioned as the third biggest club in Nottingham, within three promotions to the Football League, I take immense credit to have headed this and to have developed a first team, academy, youth structure, stadia and culture for our fans and community to be proud of.
“The club has a solid infrastructure, bar and catering function, youth and junior section, full-time academy and income stream that provides a sound foundation.
“My family and I feel this provides the platform for continued growth. I will, though, be continuing the CFC/ CIC side of the Community Football Club for the foreseeable future in my current trustee capacity.
“I will be overseeing the various exciting projects the community side has in the pipeline; this will also include the soon to be completed new clubhouse and plans for further development of the facility.
“As continued owner of the football club, I will still oversee for the foreseeable future the financial running of the club, the ultimate senior levels of the club but not the day-to-day operations.
“I truly believe the club remains on the cusp of continued greatness and has such a great pool of committed people that the intention to target the National League and, ultimately, the Football League is one of significant possibility with the right investment.”