CHAIRMAN Anthony Hampson indicated Worcester City’s board “would be very happy to gain any support” having accepted an offer of independent financial advice.
Worcester City Supporters’ Trust issued an open letter to Hampson and his fellow directors on Thursday, declaring the figures would need to be examined in order to “make any decision on the viability of the football club”.
It offered free of charge the services of Nick Igoe, a financial consultant with Supporters Direct, to go through the books, an invite Hampson accepted on behalf of his fellow directors within 24 hours.
Trust secretary Rob Crean explained the scrutiny would enable its members to make an informed judgment on how to proceed at its AGM on Wednesday, March 28.
Hampson expressed tentative hope the move could be the catalyst behind a united push to deliver a new home for City at Parsonage Way, which remains “the best location” in his view.
“We will be delighted to work with the financial adviser,” said the City chief.
“I understand he is an experienced football man and we want to give him as much information as we can about the finances of the club.
“We want to move forward with getting back to Worcester as quickly as possible.
"If the adviser the trust has put forward can add to the debate about the options for the club, the grants that may be available and any future ownership models then we would be only too happy to look at them.
“The (club’s) board members were all in agreement that we should investigate any possibilities that could help the club get back to Worcester.
“We would be very happy to gain any support. The trust has shown interest before and then probably found it is not as easy as they might have thought.
“There were trust representatives on the board who disappeared in one fell swoop. I just hope this is a genuine effort to knit together and move the club forward.
“I think they are probably as encouraged by Parsonage Way as much as we are. Having the council behind this project certainly makes a huge amount of difference.
“I hope there is some movement, both from us and the trust, to work together to make it happen.”
The trust’s offer arrived six days after Hampson publicly offered to walk away from City “almost straight away”, a statement he stood by while offering as much or as little support as any successor may wish to take.
“If people feel I am not doing a good job then I am happy to stand aside,” added Hampson.
“If there is another suitable candidate that comes forward to move the club along, help it financially and give it some vision for the future then I will do what is in the best interests of the club.
“I think we have done extremely well to even have a chance of getting back to Worcester at Parsonage Way and personally I still feel it is the best location for the club.
“If we can all work together in that direction I will be happy to help, in the background if necessary, another individual who wants to take the club forward.”
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