Port Vale administration is confirmed
Port Vale administration confirmed: the inevitable has been confirmed after the club’s hearing at High Court in Birmingham concluded on Friday lunchtime.
The news means that the Port Vale board are no longer in control of the club as the administrators take over. Meanwhile, the club will be deducted ten points by the Football League.
Reacting to the news, the Port Vale Supporters Club issued the following statement:
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PORT VALE SUPPORTERS’ CLUB
MARCH 9, 2012
Port Vale Supporters’ Club is urging all fans to ‘Pack The Park’ tomorrow to welcome in a new era in the club’s history following the sad news today that Port Vale has been placed into administration.
Supporters’ Club Chairman Pete Williams said: “This is a very sad and distressing time for anyone associated with Port vale Football club particularly its employees.
“However, we can take heart from the tremendous outpouring of support which followed the city council’s brave decision to fund the placing of Port Vale into administration.
“It really was the only solution to months and months of mismanagement by the board of directors and their predecessors which had left the club in a total financial mess.
“Today marks a new dawn. The fans have their club back and now it is down to us to demonstrate what Port Vale means to us by getting back to Vale Park, spending money at the club, and showing the city council, the administrator and would-be investors that we have a club with great potential.”
The Supporters’ Club will continue its fund-raising efforts at tomorrow’s home game against Barnet. On Tuesday night, at the home game against Burton Albion, volunteers with just eight buckets collected a fantastic 6,440 towards the Supporters’ Club’s hardship fund. That was added to 1,040 collected at a public meeting at Baddeley Green Workingmen’s Club last Sunday along with 1,300 donated online since Sunday making a total of 8892 and we have numerous cheques to add to that total too.
Money collected for the hardship fund will be used to support Port Vale employees in financial distress and to assist with the club’s running costs.
Mr Williams said: “The generosity of supporters really has taken our breath away. Tomorrow our volunteers will be out in force with more buckets and I am sure the response will be even better.
“We are hoping for a bumper crowd perhaps including supporters of other clubs who wish to again show their solidarity for Port Vale’s plight.”
Administrator Bob Young has also urged supporters to turn up in force for tomorrow’s home game with Barnet (3pm).
He told the Sentinel any extra gate money will help him keep the club alive while he looks for a buyer.
He said: “The council have been as helpful as they can, but we need as many people through the turnstiles as possible. That support will also encourage any buyer.”
Port Vale Supporters’ Club is currently working hard on a number of initiatives to raise funds under the simple umbrella banner of #savethevale details of which will be released ASAP.
There is no shortage of great ideas. We already have a Rebuilding Port Vale Facebook page and the Starve ‘Em Out campaign has been converted into the Feed ‘Em Up campaign for season ticket pledges. We applaud both these initiatives and we urge all supporters to visit http://www.feed-em-up.co.uk to make your season ticket pledge and show any prospective new owners what a fantastic club this is with everyone finally pulling together.
Mr Williams added “We are now appealing for volunteers to contact us and offer their services in relation to forthcoming events and initiatives which we hope will have the support of the local media. Anyone wanting to help with bucket collections tomorrow please meet outside Tommy’s at 2pm
“We would like to assure fans that we will be liaising very closely with the administrators and offering their staff any support they require.
“This is a time for all Port Vale fans including our celebrity supporters to set aside their differences, pull together and work our socks off for the good of our club. Every little helps.”
The Supporters’ Club, which now boasts a membership of more than 1,300 fans, would also like to take this opportunity to wish Micky and the lads all the best for tomorrow’s game against Barnet. You’re doing a fantastic job and Vale Park will be fully behind you tomorrow. Three more points, please boys!
Membership of the Supporters’ Club is completely free and you can join online through this link:
http://www.portvalesupportersclub.org
Up the Vale!
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