Fans plan to show their displeasure with regime

GATESHEAD chairman and owner Dr Ranjan Varghese has attempted to quell growing unrest among the Heed Army, writes JEFF BOWRON.

Tynesiders’ supporters are contemplating making their feelings known at next weekend’s home game against Barnet.

Others have vowed to vote with their feet by staying away from games under the current regime.

Contact has been made with Supporters Direct, who will send a representative to Thursday’s Gateshead FC Supporters Club meeting at Pelaw Social Club.

Manager Ben Clark has appealed for fans to stay behind his side.

“If they want to do their thing after or before games that is entirely up to them,” said Clark. “The fans have always been good to me and I know for a fact they will always support the team on the pitch.”

Clark has been undermined on several occasions by the current regime at Gateshead, who have been accused of asset-stripping.

Top scorer Scott Boden and defender Fraser Kerr were sold behind his back, Kerr for a reputed £4,000 this week. The real value of the latter’s transfer to Hartlepool will be significantly more than that.

As one of the top earners, Gateshead will save not only his wages but also on the rent for digs provided by the club.

Captain Scott Barrow, another top earner, was bemused to learn this week that he had been touted about as being available for transfer.

Speculation an HMRC winding up petition has been issued have been denied; rumours players weren’t paid this month are unfounded.

What is indisputable is that debts are mounting up despite tens of thousands of pounds being shaved off the budget. Varghese’s twin aims to make Gateshead self sufficient and to attract 2,000 crowds are both laudable and fanciful.

The Heed have a hard core of around 650 fans and are consistently in the bottom three worst supported clubs in the fifth tier.

“We need the support of at least 2,000 fans at the International Stadium in order to help take the club to new heights,” said Varghese.

“We have worked hard in order to achieve financial sustainability and are very close to achieving this.”

The Indian shipping magnate is reluctant to invest more money, with most fans believing right-hand man Joe Cala is pulling the strings.

Cala – banned by the FA from owning or being a director of a club in this country – was behind failed bids to take over Portsmouth and Morecambe, is listed as Gateshead’s chief financial adviser on Linkedin.

Heed have been under a transfer embargo for most of the season and are trying to get back a £200,000 bond lodged with the league.

A meeting with National League officials, including chief executive Michael Tattersall, on Tyneside on Friday failed to resolve either issue; the league board meet on Thursday.

Gateshead have yet to produce documentation to convince the League to lift the embargo or release some of the bond.