BOROUGH CHIEF IS LEADING TOWN’S MISSION
THE sponsor who tried to save Nuneaton Borough has vowed to ‘build bridges’ with any doubters after being named as the phoenix club’s interim chair.
Ian Cook took on the thankless task of trying to keep Boro afloat after the club’s eviction from Liberty Way and the departure of manager and owner Jimmy Ginnelly.
He called a halt on January 18 with new club Nuneaton Town to be run through a community interest company (CIC). Involving Nuneaton Borough Supporters’ Co-operative and backers such as Cook and ex-Boro chair Stuart Elliott, they will groundshare at Bedworth United and hope to kick off next season in Step 5.
Fans were updated at a meeting at Stockingford Allotment Association, Nuneaton, on Wednesday with Cook, Elliott, co-op representatives Jim Evans and Mark Lacrouts and independent representative Derek Dunnachie forming the interim board.
Most of the feedback was positive but Cook accepts that some scepticism lingers over his links to the past. He noted how “a lot came out of the woodwork” during pre-season, including rent arrears and the need for essential maintenance work at Liberty Way, but acknowledged: “The fans are very passionate. When they look at the (old) board, they are going to ask why things were not looked into.
“There is a lot of finger pointing but I accept it, the fans are passionate about the club so I will accept it and go out to build bridges.
“That is one of the reasons for taking it on, to hopefully put it right and rebuild those bridges.”
He added: “I slept on it for quite a few nights due to what we had been through but a part of me always said that I wanted to take on this role to get the club back and ease the pain.
“To be part of this new set-up, with the steering group and so much more fan involvement, there is so much positivity.
“The fans were involved in Nuneaton Borough but to have them as part of the decision making, interacting with them more, made this really attractive.”
It was also announced that Lee Hayward will be the club’s treasurer, while Richard Dean, father of ex-Nuneaton players Gaz and Alex Dean, returns as club secretary.