The good thing is that you can tell us what you like and providing it isn't libelous our club will just not respond, it sad really but true. I do hope this all gets resolved before the court date regardless of whether it is the fault of BTFC or HUFC.

I am saying a lot of people are getting their knickers in a twist and jumping on the clubs back before they even know the facts. This is a sign of the times lately.

Until then all we know for certain is Billingham Town owe our club 10 grand and we want it back.

How do we know that for certain? it is disputed by BTFC.

there seem to be some contradictions here. neil, you say from your clubs point of view the money isnt owed due to what you said. Yet in the evening gazette it has a quote from someone from your club stating they do owe money, but cant afford to pay it back.

This really, really needs to be commented on quickly by ior.

I think for Pools to issue a winding up order on the club it is pretty much nailed on that they owe us the money. IOR will have a huge legal team behind them and they would not issue it unless it was water tight.

Get your tongue out of IOR's arse.

No you don't know that for certain. Hufc *CLAIM* Btfc Ltd owe them £10,000. It is not a fact unless the court rules that this document it's all over is all correct and legal.

The facts are:

1) Hufc have a documents saying BTFC Ltd will pay them a specific amount of money for ground maintenance.
2) The document was signed by the ex-chairman of the football team who is not, and never has been a director of the club.
3) Billingham Town claim that the document cannot be held up as it was not signed by the director and owner of the football club and also that there was no knowledge of it before this season.
4) Hufc have had a Winding up Order set for BTFC Ltd and a court date is set.

Town say the deal was struck by a previous regime and they have tried to resolve the red tape over the past year but all attempts have been snubbed.

“This could put us out of business,” said committeeman Peter Martin. “We just don’t have the money to pay.

“We have worked hard over the last two years paying off debts left by a previous regime but this could see us off.

“We don’t have the cash. We don’t own the ground or the clubhouse and all the payers pay to play for us. Our only assets are four match balls, two strips and the nets.”

Town insist they have tried to deal with the debt but have met a wall of silence.

“We have made arrangements with all our creditors to pay every penny we owe and always tried to do the right thing but Hartlepool United won’t even talk to us about it.

“We will get through this season’s fixtures but after that things look very bleak.”

Hartlepool United declined to comment on the situation.

---------------------------------------------------------

It doesn't say we owe them money, it says we've tried to talk to them about it and sort the problems out between the clubs but so far have had no luck.

My money would be on some mention of it in the chairman's column in tomorrow's programme.

going back to what you said about Billi Town not owing the money neil, then why did BTFC allow us to spend a significant amount of money doing your pitch and facilities up. Surely this director would have asked us to explain ourselves when we turned up with rotavators in hand? Or did he think we would do it for free out the goodness out of our hearts.

Theres something about all this that doesnt sit right for me.

Why? Because he dare have a different opinion and not jump to conclusions? Or because he has not jumped on the "Lets hate IOR" bandwagon like a lot of people have?

Maybe just maybe he is waiting for all the information to become available, Just because they have not defended themselves does not mean they are in the wrong.

So, you are saying IOR have not even considered any repayment?
I cant believe that IOR have waited until the present financial situation then served a writ!!
I really cant believe IOR have not been in regular contact with Billingham regarding the debt.
Instead of everyone here portraying IOR as the anti-christ wait until a statement is made.
I'm sure we'll be getting one sooner rather than later.

Mind, the way people are going on i.e. boycotting games etc.... i'm sure the clubs owners will be over the moon.
On the other hand they might just think foook all this, we're out of here.
We've put millions of pounds into the club, the support is already dwindling and now this.
Lets see how many on here would support the club if IOR pulled out and we ended up in the conference.

[/quote]

Are you sure you could manage the 3 quid entrance money.
If not I'm sure we could arrange a collection for you as well:)

Lets hope our dark days never return eh. You wouldn't be sharp to take the piss then. :evil

I'd still support the team. Wind your neck in man.
It'll get sorted. People talking about abandoning games etc.... doesn't help.
Lets hear from pools first then make judgement.

I can agree with that but if this is something that upsets their own fans and the footballing community surely they owners of Hartlepool United should make a statement of the facts. If this balances with BTFC's version then the courts should decide if the agreement is legally binding or not.

As it is this just looks bad for the club and as a fan makes me sad. The debt isn't one that is crippling HUFC as it isn't the kind of sum that will affect us signing players, or improving our ground etc. If the money is owed then it needs to be paid, if the winding up order is the only way HUFC can get BTFC to acknowledge the debt then it may be their only option, I can accept that but the deafening silence is at least as big an issue to supporters of HUFC.

Took the words out of my mouth.

IOR is Harold Hornsly's legacy, people on here would have it destroyed just because they dont feel in the loop with the goings on at pools. Fuck going back to the dark days.....when 10grand could well of broken us

If its true that the debt was not signed by an authorised signatory then the WUO will fail dismally. Pools will of course retain all the bad publicity.

Agree entirely Mr Alien, I am personally expecting a formal response to either be posted online or in the local rag within the coming days which should make some interesting reading.

You have Billingham going straight to the press as quickly as they could to get a damning report on Pool's and IOR which to me is desperation and as i said previously people have jumped onto the band wagon via a local paper.

I will be at the game tomorrow roaring the lads on to a valuable 3 points and will wait patiently for a Pool's response.

The problem is they probably won't say or release anything. They never do

Exactly. When Danny Wilson and Neale Cooper both left under a cloud, I was one of the first to complain as to why we, the fans, weren't told by the Club as to why they had both left, compared to other Clubs, who had told their supporters why they had just sacked their manager.

I hope IOR doesn't make this another one of these episode where the Club doesn't talk to the fans.

Why would we not allow them to improve our facilities? Pools wanted the pitch to be upto the same standard as The Vic. We don't have the money to have carried out the work they did ourselves so there' no way we'd agree to it if we thought we'd have to pay it back. The reserves used the pitch and facilities also so it's not like they were just doing it as a favour to us out of the goodness of their hearts. As far as we are concerned, we provide the facilities, pay the bills and provide the volunteers, pools maintain the pitch. If they want to install drainage etc, that's upto them.



What else are we meant to do? People were asking questions, so before anyone can start slinging mud and making accusations, we got our side of the story out. There were already reports that we owed £70,000 to pools. If we kept quiet people would assume, which some still are, that we deffinatley owe pools money, and have refused to pay it back.

The fact he remains he is a shyte left back and equally as bobbins in the middle of the park.

So are you the official spokesman for BTFC?? Or is it just word of mouth you are quoting from?

We don't have an official spokesman. I just know what's going on from our point of view, and am trying to get our side of the story out and answer any questions anyone might have as best I can.

Qeustion. Are you building a new stand for your next home game? If this threads anything to go by you'll need one.

But this £10k could now break BTFC by the sounds of things. After our clubs history of re-election surely we should act with a bit more compassion. Yes IOR apparently run the club as a business but it will come back to bite us on the arse one day when WE need help. The cost of the bad publicity here will surely outweigh £10k! Its poor business sense IMO whatever the circumstances of the money owed. It would make more sense to write off the money and get good publicity out of the clubs 'goodwill gesture'.



[x] Agreeing with this

If the Bunker is anything to go by and they did a ground share with the Loids they could be the first team to fill the Arena.

How many of the local clubs came to our aid when we were put to the sword by Garry Gibson.

Actually that probably sounded a bit harsh...

I will back Pools before Billingham Town anyday. Jumping to their defence without any facts is something i will not do. Pools first and always.

Which makes you no better than all the premiershite fans who don't care that their greed is casting the rest adrift.

You keep repeating this but to me it sounds like complete and utter bull.

So this "non director" signed this document in secret without anyone at the club knowing, then a whole season goes by without IOR or Pools shouting for any of this debt mounted from this secretly signed document or even MENTIONING this secretly signed document.
Then all of a sudden the REAL director turns round and says "eeeeee whats this? I didn't know we owe them anything."

I'd hate to see BT go out of business and I'm sure something can be done to get the debt paid reasonably quickly, It just doesn't add up for me.

Hello all, I just want to say thanks for your messages of support. Those who are less supportive, I understand your point of view aswell, you're as passionate and protective of your club as I am of mine. The shame of this whole situation is that a football club stands to disappear and a lot of people who have worked tirelesly over the years will lose something that they love. I'm not for one minute disagreeing with the point that if Hartlepool United are owed money it should be repaid in full and at the earliest opportunity, it just makes things difficult when one party won't come to the negotiating table.
What I'd like to do is invite as many of you as would like, to come to our next home game, which is Saturday 13th of March against Morpeth. It's a relegation dog fight so we could do with the support . Then after the match maybe we could get together in the club house for a pint & we will answer any questions you may have as honestly as we can.
Cheers lads & good luck against Southend tomorrow, I may even pop through as we don't have a game & my alternative is to go to our arch rivals Synthonia (rather have a leg off !!).

Parmo....fancy getting the train through and having a day on the lash??!!

Well said.. I find it hard to believe there's been no negotiation over this debt as there usually a massive amount of hoops to jump through before we get to this stage but Pools are ruthless when it comes to money believe me..

I have quite a few friends involved in the junior teams.. Is this sanction only against the senior teams?

Lets hope they get this sorted £10 000 is hardly an amount to see a club go under..

'Quote Neil 2005

Why would we not allow them to improve our facilities? Pools wanted the pitch to be upto the same standard as The Vic. We don't have the money to have carried out the work they did ourselves so there' no way we'd agree to it if we thought we'd have to pay it back. '

A very interesting and significant point, imo.

Mon, 05/04/2010, Billingham Town v Billingham Synthonia

What time is kick off I might just go anyway see if there is any aggro.

Yes pretty much mate. The non-director signed a document without the owner and sole directors knowledge. The director then found out when pools came calling for money. As has been said above you're welcome to come to our next home game for a pint after the game and a chat about the whole situation. Entrance to the game is £5, or you can get a group pass at just £10,500

Wouldn't chip have to be on the yakkers side??

How about Billingham Town v Billingham Synthonia local derby n all!

these btfc fans seem like a canny bunch. i really hope you get out of this mess.

We are at home to Brighton that day (Easter Monday), or will we all have switched allegiance to Billingham Town by then? The way things are going I may well have done!

Apparently the story is splashed all over the front pages of tonights Hartlepool Mail with a big write up. There's also an article on the Hartlepool Mail website with a bit of info and a new quote from the Billingham Town owner and director:

http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Po ... 6127434.jp

Looks like it will deffinatley go to court, can't see anything else happening now.

Cheers Grave, there are one or two of our number who display an unhealthy interest in the flavour of windows but mostly we are just blokes like yourselves who enjoy a bit of banter, a game of football and a couple of pints. Hopefully we can all meet up soon and enjoy all of those things together...........although if you're gonna come to our place you'd better make it sharpish eh
All the best lads.

I have one query regarding what the mail actually prints.... forgive the copy and paste from their site.

Tom Donnelly said: "I've been involved with the club since day one back in 1968, and I'm not going to stop fighting.

Now this may read sarcastic but does that mean he's been involved for every day since 1968 EXCEPT the day the disputed agreement was signed ?????

Now I'm sure the previous incumbent didn't just sign the agreement without legal advice, or did he just say "course I'll sign that Ken, and it's my round.

Was the agreement not discussed by the committee of BTFC at any time or once more was it solely made with the ex chairman.

Now I'm trying to see both sides and have always enjoyed the pre season games we've had at BTFC. But surely if the ex chairman made the decision off his own back, then he should be making this known or people who say it was made outside any legal format should be proving to all who will listen that fact.

People are talking about the silence coming out of Pools on this issue, but at the same time apart from Neil, there's not much coming out of BTFC.

So one final question for Neil are you a concerned BTFC fan, and your views are based on "here say" or do you actually hold some current position within BTFC, if it the latter put the actual facts into the public domain. I'm not knocking you regardless of what position you hold as like you I would be concerned if my team were facing extinction. I just want to know how you know what views your posting.

Do you also not find it hard that someone, and that's the way things seem to reading that someone has made a unilateral decision to sign something, did you not have a committee in those days, when the disputed agreement was signed

With regards to signing the document, as far as I'm aware, it was allegedly signed by the ex-chairman, without the owner/director knowing about it.

For your second question regarding my position at the club, it's both really. I'm a volunteer who helps out where I can, and I've been trying to put what facts I know out all I can. I'm not sure what other facts you want? I've tried to answer any questions asked without expressing my own personal opinions - I don't want to get into an argument over who's right and who's wrong with any Pools fans, as none of this is their fault even though inevitably it's the fans who suffer. As said by another poster, we've had a great relationship with the fans and many of the coaching and ground staff over the years, the problem is with those higher up.

With your last question, no I don't find it hard to believe. Someone thought they had the authority to sign something and didn't think it would cause any trouble. They have no obligations to tell any of the supporters committee or fans about private documents. The alledged mistake made was that they didn't tell check with the director of the club first.

I've known Tommy Donnelly for 20+ years, having used his company to repair my cars over the years, and I have no reason to doubt what he is quoted as saying in the Mail today. There has got to be a better way for Pools to resolve this dispute, before it completely ruins any standing we have in the local and national football community.