Salisbury - time to sort out the fit and proper test

[robf]

I've posted often on Hereford's problems but I wonder if all of you have heard about Salisbury's problems?

 

It's ironic that FA head honcho Greg Dyke lives just outside Salisbury but seems more concerned with PL-friendly folly such as B-teams and League 3 rather than getting the basics (the fit and proper person test) sorted out and helping his nearest club.

 

In short this is the story:

 

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Controversial Moroccan businessman Otail Touzar still remains the owner of Salisbury City, despite another failed attempt by a consortium of local businessmen to wrestle back control of the club at the High Court.

 

No date has been set for a new hearing – but Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs are understood to be demanding the winding up of the Wiltshire club in just five days’ time, at another court hearing over unpaid taxes.

 

Mr Touzar has clung on to legal ownership of the club, despite not going to the ground, paying staff wages or meeting fans, ever since he bought the club for £1, promised the backing of Arab millionaires but failed to come up with a £50,000 bond demanded by league officials.

 

Salisbury City, who finished in mid-table in the Football Conference last season, were thrown out of the league, and have not been able to find another league to play in. All the players from last season have left, and fans are getting used to the prospect of their club having no games, no manager, no players, no league and no staff, while a courtroom battle continues over ownership.

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The former directors, former businesses and fans are trying to get back control of the club and they have commented that:

 

"What idiots allow an individual to make up a name and only ask him to provide an email address as confirmation he is fit to own a football club? You guessed it the bungling fools at the Conference and FA. What they have conspired to do to Salisbury City is disgraceful and against the moral obligation they have to the teams under their charge..."

 

"Unfortunately Touzar appears to be spending far more energy eluding us than he has ever put into running a football club which to date he has invested nothing in and taken £4,000 out of [OVF note - it's alleged he paid £1 for the club and has illegally taken the summer's £4,000 season ticket sales money]. The delay going to court has been caused because we are unable to serve Touzer with papers as he has now gone on the run in an attempt to deliberately avoid us..."

 

Meanwhile, Touzar played himself in a behind closed doors "friendly" game against an "Iran all-stars" (sic) side and declaring that he "became at age 32 youngest Club Owner/Chairman/Head coach/Player in the World, an achievement that was never done before and sure it will stand for many years to come"

 

Good Lord! Poor Salisbury...