Caernarfon Town FC officers statement

Officers of CTFC today contacted Caernarfon Online with the following statement.

"In the absence of any formal statement from Caernarfon Town Football Club's Board of Directors, as officials of the club we feel duty bound to keep the playing staff, management, league and FA, and most importantly the loyal supporters abreast of developments over the last few days.
There has been much conjecture and rumour since Friday of last week (26th February 2010) concerning the future of Caernarfon Town.  This much is known:

1) The club has been served with a notice from the League suspending us from playing any further games until a bill for fines incurred during the season is paid.  This sum is not significant, but the Chairman (George Denham) has confirmed that the club has no funds to pay this bill and he is no longer willing to commit personal funds to support the club in this way.

2) The Chairman has also confirmed that there are no funds to pay the playing staff and management, and as such players wishing to move to other clubs can be released.  Further, it has been intimated that because of this situation, it is unlikely that the club will be able to continue to meets its fixture obligations in the Cymru Alliance. These two issues are obviously intertwined, and are understandably of concern.  However, as officials we would like to stress that we are of the view that these two issues can be resolved, and albeit that it now looks inevitable that we will be relegated to the Welsh Alliance next season, we can retain our presence in the Cymru Alliance this season and start the work to rebuild and begin afresh in the Welsh Alliance next season.  We have been encouraged by a number of positive developments over the weekend:

1) The League have confirmed their willingness to postpone our fixture with Penrhyncoch next Saturday to allow us time to get matters sorted. We consider this a very supportive and positive move on behalf of the League.

2) A number of existing players have expressed their willingness to play for nothing if needed.

3) A number of ex players and officials have contacted us offer us any support they can (including ex FA Cup star Russ Hughes)

4) Clubs along the breadth of Wales have made contact to offer similar support, from Welsh Premier Clubs in the North to ex League of Wales Clubs in South Wales.

5) Ex Directors and Officials have also offered help and support and there are now around 15 people ready to meet and work together, and we expect that number to rise over the next few days.

6) We have begun to work to draft a short term rescue plan, and a long term business plan, based on a new way of operating and going back to fundamentals as a football club for the whole of Caernarfon.  We hope to present those plans at a public meeting within the next couple of weeks. All this is dependent on receiving clarity from the Board on their intentions, and we are seeking an urgent meeting to discuss all of these issues.  Once more clarity has been provided, a further statement will be released.  In the interim rest assured that we are working day and night to resolve matters in the most positive way and to get Caernarfon Town back on track and onto winning ways, on and off the field.

Arfon Jones, Chairman "Friends of Caernarfon Town" and Club Licensing Officer John Watkins, Club President Geraint Jones, Club Secretary