03 August 2012

What (allegedly) happened was...

What (allegedly) happened was...

These are the events (as I'm led to believe):

The investors paid off the mortgages Heaney raised against the club following Lloyds' 'calling in' of the debt.

Other debts have also been settled by the investment company.

A substantial offer was (and still is) on the table from the investors for Heaney to accept and leave the Club.

Heaney accepted this offer.

As part of the agreement, Heaney's shares in the club were to be signed over to the investment company.

They, in turn, were happy to sign them over to Mark Woolcock.

Heaney had issues with this and wanted them to be assigned to Webb (presumably so he could still play puppet master).

Investment company weren't happy with this (understandably!) and so compromise was reached whereby Mark Woolcock & Webb would hold the shares equally.

Heaney resigned as a Director on Friday 21st July, leaving Mark Woolcock as the sole Director.

Mark Woolcock formed an Executive Committee to take the Club forward.

Heaney, on discovering this (through Webb) then suspended Mark Woolcock on Wednesday 25th July.

On Friday 27th July Webb (presumably bored at the lack of action at Treyew Road) decides to set fire to all the crap he's 'fly-tipped' behind the Carlsberg Stand - which comprises of asbestos sheeting - setting the back of the stand alight in the process. tries to cover the mess with old 'TCFC - Truck Stop' signs. Could be the reason for the players' sudden illness this Tuesday! Wink

Back to serious business: Webb (NOT a Director) then formed another Committee on Monday 30th July. During this meeting he stated that he had told all the members of the Executive Committee that they had been stood down. In fact, he had not communicated this to them, and hadn't even contacted all 6 of them.

Heaney now refuses to relinquish his share in the Club.

Webb tells the Management & players on 2nd August that Heaney "would rather see the Club in Step 7 than give up his share in the club."

Players then submit league registrations, but also submit 14 days notice to the Club.

If outstanding monies are not paid by 10pm Thursday 10th August then players will exercise their right to leave the Club.
CCarter.

The mother of all fiasco's

The complete Truro City first team and coaching staff met with vice chairman Chris Webb last night at Tregye, Truro to ask for something simple - their wages...again.  In what must be the saddest day in the club's history, the players have all but decided enough is enough.  A deadline has been issued to the management to pay up by next Thursday 10am.  If nothing is forthcoming, the players will walk.  And the players even had the decency to sign their contracts (with get out clause) thus ensuring the club retains its golden share in the Conference South.

How the management can let this matter descend in to utter chaos is beyond belief.  On a busy night on Twitter, some of the players have voiced their opinions, and it makes for very sad reading:

Arran Pugh@sickgiraffepugh
Lying in bed gutted tonight...was looking forward to another great season, at a fantastic club with top friends on and off the pitch.

Tim Sandercombe@MrUppity1
Bit gay but very sad and disappointed to be saying goodbye tonight in particular to les.

Barry Hayles
Really sad times hope it gets sorted out great times in my career and bunch of lads.

Joseph Broad@jbizzle6
Sad times, emotional evening saying goodbyes!! Couldn't have played with a better group and in front of a better set of fans

Jake Ash@jakeyash
I don't know what to feel. The journey has been amazing with memories I will never forget. I'm SO proud to have been part of it.


City's future looks bleak after unpaid players issue deadline

By Rhod Mitchell, West Briton

The future of Truro City as a Blue Square Bet South club was hanging by a thread tonight after the squad gave the club a seven day deadline to pay the wages they are owed.

If the money is not paid by 10am next Thursday, then the players will reluctantly quit City, just over a week before they are due to start the new season at Billericay Town on Saturday August 18, plunging the club into further turmoil.

The bulk of the squad have signed contracts, which they say they will allow to go into the league, but have also given 14 days notice that if the owed wages are not paid they will be leaving.

That notice can be revoked at any time if the money is forthcoming.

The latest dramatic developments came after the squad was addressed at training at Tregye, near Truro, this evening by City vice-chairman Chris Webb, in the absence of chairman Kevin Heaney, who he told the players was in London meeting with the investors who want to take over the club.

It is understood an impasse between Mr Heaney and the London-based group has led to the present situation with no funds available to pay the long-suffering players who had to undergo a similar scenario last season.

Webb refused to comment after leaving the meeting, but the players were not so reticent and many were visibly distraught at the latest sad turn of events. Many fear this could finally be the end of the road after an unprecedented run of success.

Bankrolled by chairman Kevin Heaney the club has risen from from the South-Western League to within two promotions of the Football League, with a FA Vase win at Wembley along the way.

But now unless the money is forthcoming, the club will face the prospect of either pulling out of Blue Square Bet South attracting severe penalties or fulfilling the fixtures with reserve team players.

It will be a reserve team who travel to Tiverton for a friendly on Saturday and it is highly unlikely Tuesday's scheduled friendly against St Blazey will go ahead.

Striker Stewart Yetton said: "It is a very sad state of affairs. It does not look very hopeful."

Skipper Jake Ash said: "The realism is that as a group of players we do not want to see the club go down the leagues. We have given the club the best opportunity by handing our forms in. It is horrible. There does not seem to be any winner.

"We all feel so sorry for the supporters who have been fantastic."

Manager Lee Hodges said: "It is a very sad situation two weeks before the start of the season for everyone involved at the club now and in the past. The players are gutted."

02 August 2012

Sickness at Truro City. The Players or the Club?

A sobering and depressing article on the current state of Truro City FC,  from the Cornish Soccer Forum, can be read by visiting this LINK

City in limbo as players "go ill"

Source This is Cornwall  LINK

With the start of the new season just over two weeks' away, there is still massive uncertainty about the future of Truro City.

As of Tuesday, the last day of the month, it was understood the squad had not been paid this month's wages leaving many of the players disillusioned and upset.

Perhaps significantly a number cried off Tuesday night training citing "illness", including Adam Kelly, Arran Pugh, Tim Sandercombe, new signing from Falmouth Town Dan Green and Ben Adelsbury and Stewart Yetton, who suffered a hamstring injury in Saturday's 3-2 win against Falmouth Town which in any case is likely to keep him out for several weeks.

And it is understood the only fit first team squad regular at training was former Penryn midfielder Cody Cooke.

It had been expected that new investors would come into the club by now, with chairman and owner Kevin Heaney, who is thought to be out of the county, stepping back.

But it is believed nothing has yet been finalised leaving the club in a virtual state of limbo.

Newly-appointed chief executive Mark Woolcock is away on holiday and could not be contacted, and there was even speculation that he might have been suspended.

Vice-chairman Chris Webb referred all enquiries to either Messrs Woolcock or Heaney, who also could not be contacted.

Webb added that he did not know what was happening.

It is a worrying situation for the financially troubled club, who have lurched from one crisis to another in recent times after  a meteoric rise up through the leagues.

They are next due in action at Tiverton on Saturday (3pm), but it is unclear what sort of side player-manager Lee Hodges will be able to take to Ladysmead.

They then play at home to St Blazey on Tuesday evening (7.45pm) in what is currently their last match before their first Blue Square Bet South game at Billericay Town on Saturday August 18.

If there is an exodus of players then Hodges could be forced to field a team of untried youngsters in order to fulfil the club's fixtures.

Last season the players almost quit after the non-payment of wages, though the situation was eventually resolved. 

They  have been remarkably loyal, but it seems as even their patience is finally running out  and there are even suggesstions they could be set to walk away from the club if they are not paid today.

City supporters will now be  desperately hoping that a solution is found before disaster strikes.

01 August 2012

Barry Hayles scores twice on debut for Chesham United

After much summer speculation, it looks like Barry Hayles has finally departed Truro City.  After an initial dalliance with Salisbury City this summer, Chesham United fans have been lauding up two goals scored by Barrington "on his debut" last night against Berkhampstead.  With sparse information coming from Treyew Road, Truro Fans will be disappointed to hear of another key player exiting the club.  One guess only for the reason?