The entire board of FC United of Manchester – the breakaway club set up by Manchester United supporters after the Glazer family’s takeover at Old Trafford – has offered to resign after calling an EGM to deal with the most turbulent period in the club’s short history.
The club have also released a statement to “recognise the unrest and upset felt by many members” after a period of infighting that is now likely to see the election of a new board.
“The board has unanimously agreed that it is in the best interests of the club to call an Extraordinary General Meeting as soon as is possible,” the statement read.
“At the EGM all remaining board members will either stand down permanently or stand down and seek re-election. The EGM will elect a new board for the club. This will provide members with the opportunity to vote for a newly formed board with a fresh mandate to represent the club’s best interests and best serve the club going forward.”
The Guardian reported on 31 March how a series of divisions behind the scenes at the club had already led to legal action, resignations, protests and gagging orders. Since then Adam Brown, one of the driving forces behind the club since its formation in 2005, has resigned because of what he described as “an orchestrated campaign” against the regime.
Brown’s departure, having been facing a vote of no confidence, followed the decision of Andy Walsh, the general manager, to stand down amid criticisms from parts of the fanbase that the club have abandoned their founding principles and were not being run as members wanted.
FC United moved into their £6.3m Broadhurst Park stadium at the start of the season and have climbed to the National League North, the sixth tier of English football, with crowds topping 4,000 for some games and realistic ambitions to become the third Manchester club in the top four divisions.
However, what should have been a momentous year is ending in acrimony with the current board facing what is bordering on mutiny. Another board member, Alison Watt, resigned at the same time as Brown and in their latest statement the club also confirm that Richard Searle is standing down.
The club have also apologised to their members about the way a general meeting was abandoned on Sunday because of “a number of issues … relating to the venue and the registration of proxies and postal ballots that were unsatisfactory and fell below the standards that members expect.
“The board apologises to all those members who attended Sunday’s meeting, many of whom had travelled long distances, for the evident shortcomings experienced and shares their sense of frustration at the inability to conduct the meeting as planned.”
The statement added: “Board members recognise the unrest and upset felt by many members currently and are collectively committed to ensuring that the co-owners of FC United of Manchester can find a way through the challenges we face at this stage of our history.”
