Before I deal with today's proceedings in the High Court, I feel I need to say something about the sensationalism on the front of today's Echo newspaper (incidentally this takes nothing away from the Borough Council who have been excellent in their early consideration of the Club's requests in recognition of the many pieces of jigsaw we have had to assemble in coordinating a complex financial equation… and at a time when the Club has been haemorrhaging money).
We all credit the media these days in using a little 'license' but today's headlines take the biscuit.
How they quite write an article of nearly 600 words around a quote of just 3 words from me "Yes, we will" and littered entirely with conjecture and supposition, hardly encourages the reader to take much of what is written as genuine. One would think that a dominant local paper would wish to align its interests in support of its local football club…. whereas misleading headline deliberately served to work against our interests.
For fans' information, we recently tried meeting with the Echo's editor, Martin McNeill (who vehemently denies being a Col U supporter), but he was unwilling. I would like Martin to reconsider and meet up with our Commercial Director, Ian Riddoch, and he should read this as an olive branch.
Turning now to today's proceedings:
Whilst the funds were lodged yesterday in readiness for payment, there remained documents between Sainsbury's and ourselves to be completed and which were not in their agreed form last night. They now are and have been signed off by me today enabling the funds to be transferred to HMRC's account tomorrow to close the matter.
For clarity, the sum of £378,487.36 will be sent to HMRC. £162,000 of this is currently under Appeal which will be heard at a Tribunal in the coming months and, if consistency reigns, will result in a rebate for the Club.
An amount of some £100,000 is not strictly due until 22 April (month 11) and therefore the actual amount that was undisputedly owed is circa £120,000 (£378,000 less £162,000 and £100,000).
As a formality, the case still has to go before the Court to be dismissed and, as HMRC regularly hear all their Petitions each on a Wednesday, the case was adjourned for
7 days to allow that formal process to be concluded. I will not be attending at the High Court next week (as there is no necessity) … in fact, if I never attend the Royal Courts of Justice ever again that will be too soon. Nevertheless, it has been necessary to protect our Club's interests.
To finish there was one unusual, and a little amusing, moment. The case was originally scheduled for 10.30am (along with 100 others!) but when it came to our turn at around 11am, the Judge announced he would have to 'recuse' … which in layman's terms means 'step down' presumably for reasons of some confliction of interest. We will perhaps never know but the obvious answer one might deduce from that, is that the Judge is a supporter… if that's the case, I wonder what he might make of The Echo reporting!
Ron Martin
Chairman
