Heed look to end embargo at key summit

GATESHEAD will finally meet with Vanarama National League officials on Friday, March 1.

National League chief executive Michael Tattersall will be part of the contingent for the meeting on Tyneside.

The league has been trying to arrange a meeting with Gateshead owner Dr Ranjan Varghese for some time. Two previous proposed dates were declined before both parties settled on March 1.

A financial review will see league chiefs look at the club’s books and the amount of the current and projected debt.

Gateshead were recently served a winding-up petition and were slapped a £10,000 fine by the league earlier in the season.

Varghese had to put down a £200,000 bond with the National League when he took over the Tynesiders just before the season.

The club would like that money back now, or at least part of it, but that is unlikely to happen.

The club has also been under a transfer embargo for several months, leaving new manager Ben Clark with a threadbare squad.

The ban could be lifted at the meeting and Clark believes he will then be able to bring players in.

Despite the off-field concerns, Gateshead – pre-season favourites for relegation – continue to defy the odds. The Tynesiders go into Saturday’s home showdown with second-top Wrexham a surprise sixth in the table.

Gateshead are already operating on one of the lowest budgets in England’s fifth tier but have been forced to shave tens of thousands of pounds off the budget.

Clark, unbeaten in his five games in charge, is confident funds will be released to strengthen the squad should the embargo be lifted.

The former centre-back said: “We have spoken to a lot of agents and a lot of players have been offered. It is just unfortunate we cannot get them in at the moment.

“When the embargo does get lifted I am sure we will be in a position to bring a few in.”

The owner has not revealed his intentions for next season but the concern is the lack of investment is likely to continue.

There has been an indication another investor could come on board with a significant six-figure cash injection.

That would be a welcome development - but at the moment naval architect Varghese is running the tightest of ships.