O'Hara explains all - Part 2

Supporters Club Meeting - Part 2

As I have already mentioned about the East stand, I will move onto the other things raised at last nights meeting. And to be honest, it was not as doom and gloom as what most people were expecting.

We have been accepted into the Nationwide Conference. Tony Kniveton confirmed that the club had been informed this week that there are no problems about us being accepted into the league even with our financial problems and lack of players.

The ITV digital problem does not affect us because none of that money is handed to Non-League teams anyway. The only money we can expect to receive from Sky TV is if one of our matches is on the box. In which case we will receive £6,000 for being the home team, or £3,000 for being the away team.

The club will not receive any parachute payments from our drop into the Conference. This is because we already owe money to the League and so the parachute payments will be kept instead to pay the debt.

The same will also happen with the remaining money we are owed from the Chris Clarke sale to Blackpool, as well as any fees from the probably sale of Matthew Clarke.

Now for the positive news.

Which ever manager that gets the job at the club will start with a clean slate. He will be allowed to bring all his own players in so there will be no excuses of not having his own players at the club.

Come august, the club will hopefully be starting the season with a clean slate financially, which would mean have no debts. The club has to live within the limits and so which ever group of people are in charge at the club will have no excuses for running up debt.

The subject of the 3 for the price of 2 season tickets offer was brought up. Two seasons ago the club offered people the opportunity to pay upfront for 2 season tickets and get the 3rd year free. Starting in August will be the 3rd season, and some people were worried that they would be losing out on this offer. O'Hara explained that this makes the people who took up the offer creditors, and the chances of receiving anything were very slim. But Kniveton explained that Bob Walker had already guaranteed that people who took up the offer will still receive the 3rd year for free.

The Supporters Club handed over a cheque for £10,000 for which the administrator promised would be used to pay running costs throughout the summer, and would not be used to pay any debts. This will be the same for any other donations that are made to the club.

I think this covers most things at last nights meeting. Don't forget I have already mentioned the East stand situation in an earlier story and you can find that on the front page.

Overall, yes the club is still in a mess and in danger as well. But we are accepted into the Nationwide Conference, and it looks quite certain now that come August, Halifax Town will still have a football team.

Next season there are no excuses. The manager will be starting with a clean slate. Something not many managers get the chance to do. The board of directors will also have the same. A chance to move the club forward without having debts hanging around the neck.

And who knows. We might even have a nice new (newish) stand to sit in. But maybe I am asking for too much.