Truro City Football Club's make or break meeting with creditors

By Miles Davis, West Briton LINK

TRURO City Football Club faces a make-or-break meeting on Tuesday at which it will try to resolve its debt problem.

When the club went into administration in September, creditors' claims totalled just under £4 million but the figure on the table on Tuesday has come down to approximately £145,000, the West Briton can reveal.

The club went into administration in September last year after the club's colourful chairman Kevin Heaney was declared bankrupt.

Truro nightclub-owner Peter Masters and A2B taxi firm boss Philip Perryman stepped in to buy the club in October.

 

They say they are now looking to build solid foundations for the future by agreeing a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) whereby creditors would be paid back agreed sums over a three-year period.

The club could be under threat if an agreement is not reached on Tuesday.

The report by administrators Walsh Taylor states: "Failure to approve this CVA proposal is likely to result in a dissolution of the club, expulsion of the buyer from the Football Conference and no return to creditors."

Truro City were relegated this season from the Football Conference South to the Southern Football League Premier Division.

If a CVA is not agreed the club will remain in administration and face expulsion from the Football Conference. It would, according to the administrators' report, be most likely to re-enter in tier 9, the
Western Premier League, three leagues below the position it occupied last year.

The Walsh Taylor report states: "Such a drop would seriously jeopardise the ability of the buyer to continue to trade."

The suggestion that the drop would threaten the future of football at Treyew Road was given short shrift by current owner Mr Masters.

"TCFC would continue to play football at Treyew Road in any event," he insisted.

A previous creditors' meeting due in April was cancelled at the last minute due to continuing negotiations.

Mr Heaney's partner Julia Sincock, a company director of Dilby Limited, previously threatened to present a winding-up petition against the club if an alleged debt of £125,000 was not settled, but the claim was denied by Mr Masters. The latest list of creditors shows a claim for Dilby of £1.

Oxford United announce pre season friendly

Monday 29th July 2013.

Oxford United have announced on their official website that they will be playing Truro City on Monday 29th July, kick off 7.30pm.  This of course, is to be officially confirmed by TCFC.

LINK HERE

Another Truro City Legend leaves us

With news breaking last night that Truro City Legend, Marcus Martin is Tiverton bound, the full effect of the delayed CVA is now taking hold.  Uncertainty seems to be the key word, among players and fans.  Truro Fans wishes Marcus the very best at Tivvy.  Thanks for the last seven years' memories.

Meltdown memories to savour:

Lee Hodges - contract not renewed.

Andy Watkins moves to Bath City

Barry Hayles retires

Martin Watts moves to St Austell

Stewart Yetton signs for Weymouth Town FC

Cheers for the memories Lee.

Marcus Martin (and Adam Kelly) join Tiverton Town FC

Press Release From Tiverton Town FC

John Clarkson was tonight introduced to the media and Tivvy fans at a press conference at Ladysmead. Clarkson has arrived from Spain where he was manager of Ontinyent in Segunda B.

He had been managing in Spain for the last six years. He immediately announced his first three signings. Wide midfielder Adam Kelly has re-signed for Tivvy from Champions Poole Town. Kelly was a member of the highly successful Tiverton Town Under 18’s from a few years back managed by Hedley Steele.

Kelly was at the press conference alongside another new signing central defender Matt Villis, who joins from Blue Square South Weston-Super-Mare. He is another player returning to Ladysmead.

Ex Truro City player Adam Kelly also joins Tiverton Town

Third signing is ex-Truro City midfielder Marcus Martin who has been with the White Tigers since leaving Exeter City.

Marcus sadly leaves Truro City for Tiverton Town

Clarkson explained that he expects a number of other new signings by the end of next week, including two from Spain. “I am very close to completing my squad. Five players from last season's squad, Josh Concanen, Josh Searle, Tom Gardner, Alex Faux and Chris Wright have indicated they are willing to commit to next season” He explained he was looking forward to the challenge but was very tired after a 23 hour drive from Spain. “ Give me a week and I will be right up to speed” Exciting times indeed for the loyal Tivvy supporters.

CVA Update - Friday 17th May

CVA Update

The revised date for the CVA is now the 4^th June 2013. During the period up to this date we will be talking again to the Creditors who have not agreed to the assignment in a last ditch effort to persuade them to assist a successful outcome. Supporters will I am sure understand that debts incurred by the previous regime during their promotion drive at that time to reach the Conference South League will have to be addressed through the CVA process to make us eligible to enter the Southern Premier League.

It will therefore come as no surprise that given the level of debt at the point of Administration part of which can be attributed to management and players’ salaries difficult decisions had to be made. With this at least we can talk to the remaining Creditors who have in some cases lost in excess of 18k to ensure them that the errors of the previous regime have been corrected and this situation will never be repeated. This of course is no consolation to all of us that Truro City Football Club has lost the Freehold title of its Football Stadium at Treyew Road in circumstances what again appeared to have been its quest for success on the pitch at any cost.

To put it bluntly it would be immoral if we were to ask a Creditor on one hand to write off 18k and on the other offer new contracts to management and players at last season’s unsustainable levels. There is a comparison to be drawn however unpleasant it may be. A further review of the CVA will be undertaken before the meeting following the outcome of discussions with the remaining Creditors

Peter Masters

Chairman

Truro hang fire on naming new boss

Western Morning News 17th May. 2013.

Truro City are not expected to announce their new managerial set-up until the club knows what level they will be playing at next season.

And the club, which is still in administration, faces a race against time to agree a CVA with its creditors ahead of the Conference annual meeting on June 8.

A date for the CVA meeting has been set for Tuesday June 4th, just three days before the Conference meeting.

Club chairman Pete Masters said yesterday there were still three "hard core" creditors, owed around some £70,000, who had still to agree to the CVA.

 

Without that agreement City, who finished bottom of Blue Square Bet South, face a drop of up to three leagues to the Premier Division of the Western League.

And until the situation is clearer the club are in a difficult position as they try to assemble a competitive squad and managerial set-up for the new campaign.

The club is looking for a successor to Lee Hodges, who was told earlier this month that he would not be offered a new contract, and denied this week that head of football development, Steve Massey, would take charge, assisted by another former City boss Graeme Kirkup who is assistant manager to Nicky Marker at Ivybridge Town.

And another former City favourite Glynn Hooper, who has just stepped down as manager at Newquay, revealed that he had been approached about a possible coaching role at Treyew.

But with all the uncertainty surrounding what league City will be playing in next season, and the amount of travelling that will be involved, Hooper will not be rushing into any decision.

Masters said that Massey had been very busy talking to a number of players about next season.

There will be a lot of new players," he said. "But no firm decisions have yet been made, though contracts have been drawn up. We have to be flexible."

But he did confirm "without doubt" that the club would still be playing at Treyew Road next season.
Players thought to be interesting City include the Helston strike pair of former City player Liam Eddy and Mark Goldsworthy, the Bodmin duo of Chris Luxton and Olly Brokenshire and Falmouth Tow keeper Jason Chapman, another former City player.

But one player who will definitely not be at Treyew next season is striker Andy Watkins, who has joined Bath City after a glittering City career of 295 games and 143 goals.

Truro City will live within their means says chairman

By Rhod Mitchell, West Briton. LINK

The big spending days at Truro City which took them to five promotions in six seasons and a FA Vase win at Wembley look set to be a thing of the past as the club battles to come out of administration.

The club have announced a new date for their Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) application on June 4 and chairman Pete Masters  said that they would be talking to creditors until then in a bid to ensure a successful outcome and enable the club to come out of administration.

Until the situation is clearer and then depending at what happens at the Conference annual meeting four days later, City will not even know at what level they will be playing at after finishing bottom of Blue Square Bet South.

They could even drop down three levels to the Western League if their financial situation is not resolved satisfactorily.

 

And until then, as I reported in this week’s West Briton, a successor to manager Lee Hodges and a revamped playing squad will not be announced.

 

Already Stewart Yetton (Weymouth) and strike partner Andy Watkins (Bath City) have departed and others could well follow.

Head of Football Development Steve Massey has been sounding out a number of players about coming to Treyew Road but with the uncertainity nothing has been finalised.

In his statement about the situation today Masters said:  "Supporters will, I am sure understand, that debts incurred by the previous regime during their promotion drive at that time to reach the Conference South League will have to be addressed through the CVA process to make us eligible to enter the Southern Premier League.

“It will therefore come as no surprise that given the level of debt at the point of Administration, part of which can be attributed to management and players’ salaries, difficult decisions had to be made.

“With this at least we can talk to the remaining creditors who have in some cases lost in excess of 18k to ensure them that the errors of the previous regime have been corrected and this situation will never be repeated.

“This of course is no consolation to all of us that Truro City Football Club has lost the Freehold title of its Football Stadium at Treyew Road in circumstances what again appeared to have been its quest for success on the pitch at any cost.

“To put it bluntly, it would be immoral if we were to ask a Creditor on one hand to write off 18k and on the other offer new contracts to management and players at last season’s unsustainable levels.

“There is a comparison to be drawn however unpleasant it may be. A further review of the CVA will be undertaken before the meeting following the outcome of discussions with the remaining creditors.”

So City’s long suffering supporters face an anxious wait as to what happens next, but there are sure to be more twists and turns at a club which is never far from the headlines.

Frustrated Hooper vows to never manage again

By Lee Hall, Cornish Guardian

GLYNN Hooper says he will never manage again after parting company with Newquay at the weekend, writes Lee Hall.

The former Truro City striker revealed he made his decision on the eve of the Peppermints' penultimate South West Peninsula League game of the season at Witheridge earlier this month – when only EIGHT first-team players were available.

After struggling to put a team together in the closing weeks of the season, Hooper admitted he had run out of patience, leading to his decision to step down, along with his assistant Phil Lafferty.

Hooper took charge of his final game as Newquay were beaten 1-0 at Plymouth Parkway last Tuesday.

  

And speaking to Cornish Guardian Sport this week, Hooper, who guided the club to promotion in his first season in charge last year after two seasons at St Blazey, explained the reasons behind his shock decision to leave management altogether.

He said: "I've given it four years and it's not for me. I won't manage again.

"What has happened over the last few weeks has completely put me off management. I'm sick of people letting me down hours before games.

"When you put all your time and effort into training sessions and just six players turn up it's demoralising."

He added: "When it gets to the point where you're not enjoying it anymore it's time to step aside and give somebody else a chance."

Hooper confirmed that he has received an approach from Truro City over a possible coaching role with the first-team at Treyew Road.

But with all the uncertainty surrounding what league City will be playing in next season, and the amount of travelling that will be involved, Hooper will not be rushing into any decision.

He said: "Steve Massey (Truro's head of football development) called me about a coaching position and that is something I am only considering at the moment."

Top 20 Best of Andy Watkins montage

Below are some of the images taken of Andy Watkins over the years for us to savour.

Celebrations at Chippenham

Away to AFC  Bournemouth

Away at Chelmsford

The net effect

Proud family

Home to Ebbsfleet with mum Sheila watching with pride

Memories - two past legends, side by side

Home to Havant (?)

Home to QPR in pre season friendly

Pre match warm up at Staines

Home to Tonbridge Angels

Away at Woking

Woking

The last game in a Truro shirt

Andy with Southern League medal

Good luck at Bath City FC and in your future career Andy.  Truro Fans will be following your career with interest.

Best wishes to Andy Watkins, Trevor and Sheila

Truro Fans would like to say best wishes, Andy, at your new club.  Your seven years at Truro will be remembered fondly. Best wishes also to Trevor and Sheila.  The image below was taken after the Hednesford game a couple years ago.

Andy Watkins to sign for Bath City

Source: Bath City FC official site

 

According to the official Bath City FC web site, it looks like Andy Watkins will sign for Bath City (subject to paperwork).  The club has been after Watkins for some time and it looks like they have now managed to land him.  The news will be greeted with sadness of course, because he is another hero from the Golden Era.  It's inevitable that more players will leave and we just have to brace ourselves as the meltdown continues.  We have to look on the positive side though and hope that the rebuilding will start with a new set of heroes...

 

"City add treble up top with capture of Stearn, Pratt and Watkins (8/5/13)

 

City have posted a statement of intent for the 2013-14 season with the treble signing of Ross Stearn, David Pratt and Andy Watkins. Highly-rated 22-year old winger Stearn has makes the switch from Weston Super Mare where he played a major role in their best ever Conference South season last year. Experienced striker Pratt, 24, returns to the West Country having previously played for Chippenham Town before enjoying successful spells with Basingstoke Town and Maidenhead United. And completing the new arrivals is 27-year old Truro City player of the year Watkins, having scored well over 100 goals for the Cornish side since joining them from Bideford in 2006. All signings are subject to paperwork. "

Statement of intent for Terras after Yetton signs

Source David Williams, Dorset Echo LINK

THE signing of prolific goal scorer Stewart Yetton on a two-year deal is a clear indicator of the club’s intent, according to Terras’ boss Brendon King.

Yetton, 27, put pen to paper during the club’s end-of-season awards function at the Bob Lucas Stadium on Saturday night after becoming a free agent the day before.

King had hoped to bring the former Truro City striker to Weymouth some six months ago but Yetton sustained a serious knee injury, consequently delaying his arrival from Treyew Road.

The ace marksman played for the Terras while on-loan from Plymouth Argyle nearly a decade ago and is the Cornish club’s all-time record scorer with 226 goals in 315 appearances.

He helped play a pivotal role in Truro’s climb up the football ladder to the Blue Square Bet South but his career there ended on a sour note when he was suspended following a training ground bust-up which left team-mate and ex-Terra Ben Gerring with a broken jaw.

King said he couldn’t condone what happened but added that the incident had no effect on his desire to bring Yetton to Weymouth.

The Terras’ chief was unable to hide his delight at the new addition to his squad.

“Stewart’s a quality player and a proven goal scorer,” King told Echosport. “He can play in a variety of positions as well.

“I’ve been trailing him for a long time now. We tried to bring him in earlier in the season but he got injured.

“The injury was a little bit worse than he thought it was but he worked really hard to get back. He played for Truro at the end of the season and ended up scoring a few goals.

“You look at his goal scoring record and it’s phenomenal and if we can give him the service he will score goals.

“He’s the right age and I’m over the moon we got him.”

On Yetton’s qualities and what such a signing signifies, King added: “Stewart is fully committed, gives 100 per cent, and would run through a brick wall for you.

“He wears his heart on his sleeve and he has got the lot.

“What I liked about Stewart when I first spoke to him was his desire to play for this club.

“He knows a few of the lads here and they’ve spoken to him and told him what a great club it is and how it’s run now.

“I wanted him in earlier so he could kick us on. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen but I can’t wait to get him in now.

“A two-year deal shows our intent and he wanted that as well. He didn’t want to be a one-year wonder and then go somewhere else.

“It’s not about chasing the money; it’s about being comfortable and happy in himself and playing football.
“He’s had some tremendous years at Truro and he’s done an awful lot but it was time to move on and he’ll be a massive signing for us.

“I’m delighted he’s on board and signing a player of that calibre shows our intent.

“You can’t rest on your laurels and when decent players become available you’ve got to be in the market for them.”

King also revealed that he might not be too far away from bringing in another new face to the club.

********************************************

In the meantime, Yetts tweeted to Truro Fans:

"Extremely sad to say goodbye to Truro City FC. A massive thank you and sorry for not being able to leave on better terms", and, "many thanks! A privilege to have played for such a great club"

Thanks for everything Lee

   Below are a few images of a true Truro legend - someone who gave everything to the club. Through the high times and the low times, Lee was the Club.  He got the very best out of a meagre squad, so thin on the ground that we went to Sutton on the Tuesday before Christmas with 13 men.  And got a 2-2 result.  Lee was there when Tisa and the players held a Race Night and an auction of kit to pay the wages.  Lee was always there to give an interview to the press and updates for the fans on City Alerts.  Lee always praised the fans' commitment after the match, leading the applause as a player or the manager on the day.  Lee always had time for the fans, posing for photo's without hesitation.  Lee won the Southern Premier League and had things been different, would undoubtedly taken the Club to the Promised Land.  As Mid-Cornwall White summed it up: " A truly special man and manager - God Bless you sir !"

 

Lee, you will not be forgotten.  Good luck in your next appointment - this is our loss and another club's gain.

 

End of an Era.

Truro City player-manager Lee Hodges said today he was "gutted" not to have even been offered a new contract for next season.

Chairman Pete Masters rang the Tigers' boss this morning to inform him of the news that the popular former Plymouth Argyle and Torquay United player would not be offered a new deal to extend his three year reign as City boss.

In a statement Masters said: "I have today informed Lee that the club will not be offering a new contract. 
 

"Given the uncertainty surrounding the CVA and Truro City's football league status at this time both Philip and I thought it only right to put an end to the current speculation as whether Lee will manage the team next season now to enable him every opportunity to secure a suitable position elsewhere. 

"Lee will always be remembered for his contribution towards guiding Truro City through its darkest hours during the administration both on and off the pitch and will be sincerely missed by us all."
 

Speaking this morning a disappointed Hodges said: "I  am in a little bit of shock and gutted not to be even offered one (a new contract). It is a  bit of a sad way to end.
 

"But at least it will give me time to find something else. I am open to all offers and want to stay in football." 
 

The news will come as a big disappointment to the vast majority of City supporters who have always given their backing to the popular Hodges in his three seasons in charge, the highlight of which was winning the Southern League premier division title and with it  promotion  to Blue Square Bet South.
 

But the club, amidst financial problems and which is still in administration, has been relegated this season after finishing bottom of the table.
 

And at just what level they will be playing at next season is unclear, with a three league drop to the Western League still a real possibility.
 

Hodges, who made 74 appearances for City as a player,  said he had already been planning for next season at Treyew Road after earlier  being told the club wanted him to stay on but that had now gone out of the window.

He added: "I would like to thank all the players and supporters who have  been brilliant to me in my time with the club.
 

"The biggest frustration  was that it was only in the year we won the Southern League that I was only really able to manage.
 

"For the past two seasons its has been frustrating with all the problems  and it has  just been an achievement to get a team out every week.
 

"There have been a lot of highs, but probably more lows. But I am not too bitter. That's football and I  wish the club well."
 

Speculation will now increase as to who will succeed Hodges for next season and just how many of the squad that finished the season will remain at Treyew Road, considering all the uncertainity.
 

City's Head of Football Development Steve Massey looks sure to play a part and former City managers Leigh Cooper and Graeme Kirkup are other names that could well be in the frame to succeed Hodges.
 

But Mr Masters said this morning that nobody had been lined up for the job 

He added that there was a lot of work going on behind the scenes to stabilise the club.
 

"We have got to move forward. It would not have been fair on Lee to keep him waiting until June and then say we could not offer him anything. He has put a lot of effort into the club  and I am sure he won't have a shortage of offers."