Port Vale Supporters Club concerned about Ryder deal
The Port Vale Supporters Club have issued a statement in which they have expressed concerns over delays to Keith Ryder’s takeover of the club. The statement says:
- The Supporters Club understands why fans are “justifiably angry and concerned”
- Administrators have given Ryder 24 hours to complete the deal
- They hope the deal will be completed on schedule
- If Ryder fails to complete, another party will be made the club’s preferred bidder
- The Supporters Club were unable to contact Mr Ryder himself
- There are “there are serious questions to be answered” about the handling of the deal
The full statement reads as follows.
D-Day Looms For Keith Ryder
Port Vale Supporters’ Club has been told that tomorrow is D-Day for preferred bidder Keith Ryder’s bid to take control.
Supporters’ Club Chairman Pete Williams this evening spoke to Bob Young, of administrators Begbies Traynor, as speculation continued to mount over delays to the deal.
Mr Williams said: “Bob Young has told me that he has given an ultimatum to Mr Ryder this evening. He has told him that the deal must go through tomorrow (July 31) or the administrators will revert to what Mr Young called ‘Plan B’
“Mr Young said this would involve giving a period of exclusivity to another potential buyer for Port Vale who has been waiting in the wings. He assured me this party had no links to the previous discredited board of directors.
“We at the Supporters’ Club have worked very hard to clarify the position regarding this complex deal for fans who are justifiably angry and concerned at the delays and the lack of information they have been given.
“We at the Supporters’ Club have attempted to contact Mr Ryder today but he has not got back to us as yet.
“Mr Young told me, however, that Mr Ryder was relaxed and said he was confident that the deal could be completed without a problem tomorrow.
“I sincerely hope that this is the case. We are just two weeks away from the start of the new season and time is fast running out.”
Mr Williams added: “All Port Vale supporters want is for their club to be out of administration, to avoid a further points deduction and to be able to concentrate on on-the-field matters for a change.
“As soon as we have any further information we will, of course, update supporters. If the deal does go through tomorrow then we will call a supporters’ meeting as soon as possible.
“Whatever happens in the coming days and weeks it is our belief at the Supporters’ Club that there are serious questions to be answered over the handling of the takeover, the poor communication from all parties, the shabby treatment of fans and the status of investigations into former directors of Port Vale.”
Membership of the Supporters’ Club, which now boasts more than 1,500 members, is completely free and you can join online through this link:
http://www.portvalesupportersclub.org