Time is almost up so do the right thing and move aside
Mark Cooper’s warning that this week is a case of “all or bust” for Kettering Town is possibly the biggest indicator so far that the club is heading for oblivion.
It’s no secret that the problems at Nene Park run deep but, strangely, we seemed to find out a lot more about the situation after a game was called off instead of going ahead at the weekend.
And when you find yourselves in this predicament, it’s usually best to start with what you DO know.
So, what do we know?
Well, first off it’s clear that the Poppies are severely in debt.
The figures seem to vary but the consortium who want to come in and save the club confirmed they believe the total debt stands at well over £1m.
We know that a winding-up order has been issued to the club. If there is someone you don’t mess with, it’s the taxman.
We know that for the third month running the players haven’t been paid their wages in full and, as of Saturday, it was discovered that other staff, including the stewards, were also waiting for their wages.
The club remains under a Football Conference transfer embargo because of that failure to pay the players properly and over money owed to Crawley Town, although the rules were relaxed ahead of the weekend due to the lack of registered players now on the books at Nene Park.
We know that negotiations between the consortium and current chairman Imraan Ladak have been continuing for a lengthy period of time.
And it is now blindingly obvious that Ladak has lost pretty much all support from the fanbase as the talks stall, despite his constant argument that the club are owed sponsorship money by DRC Locums.
Just last week, the Kettering Town (Poppies) Supporters Trust issued a statement in which they said they were “no longer prepared to support the club financially whilst Imraan Ladak is chairman” before following up with their belief that “even the most ardent supporter of Imraan Ladak must be losing faith in him as we slowly watch him squeeze the life out of our beloved club.”
Judging by those quotes and what you can garner from the general sense of feeling amongst the fans, Ladak’s time is up.
The problem, of course, is that the club’s time may be up soon as well.
Cooper was clearly brought back on a promise from the investors that a deal was to be done – that was nearly two weeks ago.
And here is where we start getting into what we DON’T know.
Why are negotiations taking so long? There is clearly nothing of any value as far as Kettering Town is concerned so what on earth is being discussed?
It may be looking at it bluntly but why would Ladak want to remain in a mess that so many are blaming him for?
Let’s make no mistake, his reign has been controversial but it has also brought incredible times almost unparalleled in the club’s 139-year history.
Why would he want to tarnish his legacy as possibly one of the most successful chairmen the club has had?
The situation is bleak but more and more you see and hear things that just defy belief.
Cooper has revealed that the club are up before the Football Conference this week to answer their financial problems – that could well end in a points deduction.
Then throw in the fact that the Football Association are well aware that the Poppies were, as of last week, yet to settle up with Southend Manor for the money they are owed in gate receipts for the FA Cup fourth qualifying round clash back on October 29.
The sum is just over £3,000 and Kettering could well be sanctioned if that situation doesn’t change.
In footballing terms, not paying a club who have earned every penny is almost unforgivable.
And then, on Saturday, the home game with Forest Green Rovers was postponed with the opponents having just arrived and their supporters’ coach just down the road.
No frost sheets were placed on the pitch overnight and it’s not unfair to say that had everything been rosy in the garden, they would have been.
The fact is that the fans and, even more importantly, the people who have made the club tick in the past have run out of patience. They have had enough.
And surely it will only be a matter of time before those who feel they can come in and make a difference do the same.
The time has come. Imraan Ladak’s time would appear to be up.
For goodness sake, take the deal on the table and do the right thing.
Then, in the future (if there is one), people may just be able to look back and remember the good times you gave them.
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Weather for Kettering
Sunday 27 May 2012
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Comments
There are 20 comments to this article
Page 1 of 2
BEEFYBOY
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 06:38 PM@ SKILLS and KYND NEW TO ALL THIS BUT YOU ARE BOTH MAKING A LOT OF SENSE.
afcrdktfc
Monday, January 23, 2012 at 07:53 AMPending Moderation
SKILLS
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 09:47 AM@KEEPME NUT DOWN..... Could not agree with you more.Let the new people take over Lee Thorne & Co I believe. Local football is suffering and it will be a crying shame for a great little stadium like Nene Park not to have any football there.
KEEP ME NUT DOWN
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 09:28 AMA STRONG RUMOUR HAS IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Imran Ladak sunk around £1.3m into the club and this is where the money owed rumour has emerged from. The actual tax owed is a pittance next to this I believe around £20- £30,0000 plus a few debtors around £50,000 total. Now.... Supposedly... the new potential buyers have enough to get the club up to around league One depending on results of course... but Imran has been stalling the takeover as he wants to retain a 50% share in the club !!! I dont know how that works out Imran !! The club owns nothing but you want to keep 50% of somebody elses input when they bail you out... I honestly believe he should let go before it goes to the wall. He put his money in and for whatever reason it has not worked out for him. Let somebody try and do a better job...Oh and by the way Imran w hear you are crap at poker too !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Better pack that in also.
village idiot
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 08:15 PMThe contempt for R & D FC was not in their demise but in their formation. It was always a plaything for Max who made a major mistake putting it in a village were there was not the 200,000+ required to sustain a league club. That is why when he withdrew his subsidy, my friends and I from Rushden, who had NOT jumped on the bandwagon, gave it the contempt it deserved and continued our season tickets at the Cobblers to this day and in the future.
andy4u91p
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 06:55 PMby the way Ted i leeds fan
andy4u91p
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 06:53 PMyour wrong Ted i bet you any money you like if you had a petition amongest your true fans before diamonds went bank asking them if they wished diamonds folded it would of been no as no real football fan would wish that to happen to any club as they would know it could happen to them and realise how they would feel if it did happen to them.
King Ted
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 06:29 PMDiamonds were never one of the football family, that is why they haven't been missed. Real football fans loathed fthe Dims, and to be honest they enjoyed every minute of your club's demise. Max's millions put you where you had no right to be, and now you're phoenix club is playing the likes of Bugbrooke and Cogenoe. You've finally found your true level !
andy4u91p
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 05:52 PMso Ted your not real fan for any club then for a fan to come out with that about another set of fans .denieing them the right to have a football club says lot for fellow supporters of northants football .what it matter who rushden fans as ya say inbed with, are you jealous cause you inbed on your own
andy4u91p
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 05:32 PMi sure Kettering and cobblers would nt be missed by any but their own fans.
King Ted
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 05:07 PMThe thing is Kettering Town are a proper club with real history and it would be tragic for them to die. Diamonds are the other hand were a Frankenstien-esque monster created by a foolish shoemaker that, apart from a couple of hundred inbeds who won't let go, are not missed in any way, shape or form.
andy4u91p
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 04:22 PMDe ja vu I remember when lot of you took great delight in laughing at the diamonds when they were going thru a similar situation i ask you now not so funny when your team going thru it is it .they say things come in 3s i bet cobbler fans bit worried now
Stuart T
Tuesday, January 17, 2012 at 01:16 PMIf its true about Imran, then I feel sorry for him, but he should let someone buy the club and get it of his shoulders as quick as possible, he will lose it anyway.
Westy the fat oaf
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 09:37 PMPLEASE lets see a end to this saga this week. Its not been fair on the decent fans and staff at KTFC
village idiot
Monday, January 16, 2012 at 07:45 PMIf as predicted KTFC regretfully go to the wall, will the ET shut its sports department down with no professional sport to cover in the East of the county? The county's representation for professional sport will be covered by the Chronicle & Echo of the Cobblers, Saints and Steelbacks!
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