Hitchin Town Football Club

Meeting with Andy Melvin, Monday 4th April 2005

Present:
Andy Melvin
Roy Izzard
Frank King, Chairman, Hitchin Town FC Supporters’ Club
Chris Newbold, Vice-Chairman, Hitchin Town FC Supporters’ Club

Introduction:

AM thanked us for attending the meeting and for giving him the opportunity to explain in a little more detail all that he had been trying to do over the years.

The Present:

AM started by emphasising that he is still totally committed to delivering a “state of the art” ground for Hitchin Town Football Club, in Hitchin. He explained that he had been continually frustrated by both the lack of urgency and narrow vision of the current Cow Commoners’ set up, and that they only seemed interested in preserving the “status quo” of their situation, which required them to do very little in either preserving or developing the land they possess, for charitable use in sport.

AM said he welcomed the fact that they were now required to register formally as a Charity, as this would require them to present themselves as a charity and demonstrate their own charitable status and the actions they were taking to fulfil their objectives.

AM said that he was as frustrated as any supporter was by the lack of progress in securing a long-term future for the club and if anything, much more frustrated. He had worked on this for 14 years and had spent much money on legal aid and advice from the most highly -specialised barristers dealing in land ownership. If he could secure the freehold of Top Field, he would be able to present the Cow Commoners with a sizeable amount of money for them to pursue their core objectives in providing land and facilities for charitable use in Hitchin. He was even willing to help them secure suitable alternative land for this, and include facilities as part of any proposal, but continually came up against an archaic, uninspired and almost obstructive approach from the CCs.

 
AM showed FK and CN documentation to clarify what he had tried to do. The CCs had within the last year taken the decision that they would not communicate with AM directly, but only from solicitor to solicitor. He also tabled evidence of the past two years documentation, where the CCs had on each occasion taken an inordinate amount of time to respond to AM’s communications. AM supplied CN with copies of key communication.

The Club set-up:

AM confirmed the facts regarding the set-up of the club. Hitchin Town Football Club Ltd. is part of Celeriter Ltd., which is its parent company, holding its operational losses. Directors of HTFC Ltd. are AM and T.Barrett, the shareholders for Celeriter are AM and his brother David Melvin. It is clear that the majority of the club’s “debts” through operational losses are owed to two main benefactors.

The current Infrastructure.

 
FA and CN referred to the present operation and infrastructure and that it continues to decay. AM acknowledged this and said that he did not see it as being sound business sense to keep throwing “good money after bad” and that he was committed to pursuing the long-term security of the club. Having said this, he said that he hoped that supporters would appreciate that the granting of building approval for Norton Road would ultimately result in a step towards self-sufficiency as it is expected that it may provide the club with a significant amount of regular income.

Where do we go from here?

FK and CN asked AM this question. AM’s immediate response is that he isn’t going anywhere and that he is absolutely determined to see this through and deliver. CN asked what led him to think he could do so. AM said that he was confident that once the Charities Commission took a closer and greater interest in the CCs activities (or lack of them), they would take a more objective view of his proposal. Also, he felt that the appointment of new trustees could result in a more objective view of the proposal, particularly the fact that it would give the CCs a great deal of money to develop their charitable objectives and function effectively as a bona-fide charity. AM stated that if he felt there was anyone who could achieve greater success in achieving the new ground more quickly, he would willingly hand it over for them to pursue, but he honestly doesn’t think there is anyone better placed than himself at present.

FK and CN asked AM if he felt there was anything the supporters could do.  AM said that he could not answer that question as he could not be seen to be collaborating, but he hoped that his presentation of the situation would give the supporters the facts.

 
Conclusion of Meeting:

FK and CN thanked the AM for his openness and taking the time to explain matters in more detail. AM said he felt sure that if we all stick together we will achieve our objective. He agreed that he would keep us posted with any good news as soon as he has any to report, and that he was happy for FK and/or CN to get in touch to ask if there has been any progress. We agreed that this would be a better approach, and that a “Fans Forum” would be best reserved for when there is positive, good news to deliver.