Ilyas pulls out

[JEFF]

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

I would just say that now it is in the hands of us, the die hard few!

Support everything that has been organised so far, I know its hard in the current economic climate but the more we have at the hearing, the more chance we have of being given a reprieve....

Its up to us & the compassion of the tax man i am afraid!

Exactly

[yonmon]

Originally Posted by Willie Miller

I would just say that now it is in the hands of us, the die hard few!

Support everything that has been organised so far, I know its hard in the current economic climate but the more we have at the hearing, the more chance we have of being given a reprieve....

Its up to us & the compassion of the tax man i am afraid!

Of whom it has been said many times Willie...He doesn't show compassion...a word not even in his vocabulary.

So does this mean that we're on our own then ???.

'Where to next???'

[katei77]

im asking the same

[simon]

Posted via Mobile DeviceThe ASSF must remain in place. They are needed. If some want to leave ? People will fill those shoes.

[Doug]

Originally Posted by maccawozzagod

if someone out there can provide the ammunition there will be no shortage of volunteers to lead the troops.

ASSF are meeting tonight to discuss what options we have left and where that will take us. By midnight there may be no ASSF, or by midnight we may be able to provide a rare chink of sunlight - I hope its the latter.

I will post more on this tonight

Can this be recorded in anyway?

[Greeny]

I would think that all money raised will go to tax man. I too would like to thank IIyas for his efforts .I am sad it has come to this. The management should realise that when drowning you don't refuse a life belt, sadly it looks like they have.

[sparkie]

May I please join the throng thanking Ilyas for all his efforts, both in the past and the present. I don't think I have met a nicer and more stanley blooded person than you, which is why I am deeply sadden by this latest course of events. Rest assured I will not forget your contribution to the club, even if others do.

The future is darker without the torch you carry.

[accybabs]

Hi just wondered if anyone could tell me where the ASSF meeting is being held? Also is the meeting open to all fans? Anyone know why the story on The Lancashire Telegraph from today about Ilyas has been removed!Wish I had cut and pasted it, was good interesting reading!!!!

[Wynonie Harris]

Story now on the MEN website.

Accrington Stanley face vital 24 hours - Accrington Stanley - Football - Sport - Manchester Evening News

Interesting quote from Rob Heys...

Heys said: "It's now a vital 24 hours in the club's history. A lot has happened over the weekend and we now need to take stock, speak to all parties today and try and resolve the issues."

What does he mean "speak to all parties"? Does this mean reopening talks with the ASSF?

[Pheonix]

Accrington Stanley face vital 24 hours
Dany Robson

October 05, 2009

CHIEF executive Rob Heys has said it is a vital 24 hours for Accrington Stanley in their battle for survival.

The Reds need to raise £308,000 to pay off an outstanding tax bill or face being wound up by the end of this month.

£90,000 has so far been raised through the "Save Our Stanley" campaign with time running out.

Over the weekend, vice president Peter Marsden has stood down as a director after the Stanley board held a meeting after the game at Chesterfield on Saturday.

And multi millioniare Ilyas Khan, a 17 per cent shareholder in the club, has withdrawn his financial offer of help.

"I wish the club all the best but I am now standing back," said Khan.

Marsden, meanwhile, told the club's website: "Personally I think the main protagonists involved in the off-field war of words afflicting our club should be locked in a room and not let out until they have resolved their differences.

"If required I would be happy to act as a mediator - not as a director but as an independent shareholder - but you can only help people if they want to be helped.

"I would urge the people of Accrington to get behind the SOS campaign if they really want to save our fine old club. Time is running out fast."

Heys said: "It's now a vital 24 hours in the club's history. A lot has happened over the weekend and we now need to take stock, speak to all parties today and try and resolve the issues."

Ilyas Khan said in a statement: “I confirm that I have withdrawn all offers of financial support for ASFC.

“I made this decision with a very heavy heart, and after a great deal of consideration. The club and its directors have been particularly focused on assuring everyone that they will see the situation through.

“In the circumstances I can only wish the club, its players, supporters and staff the very best.

“I also confirm that I have spoken with Peter Marsden.

“I know he made a statement to the directors at the board meeting yesterday, and I admire his courage and his integrity, and wish him well in the future.

“Finally, I confirm that the loan that I made in June of £25,000 through the ASSF will be written off by me.

“I do not wish to receive the money back, and it will therefore become an unconditional donation to the club and thereby lessen its debt by a small margin.”

He added: “Over the past three or four weeks it has become very clear that they don’t want to deal with me and there is only so many times you can make an offer and keep having that offer turned down.”

[AccyJay]

This is the original text from the Lancashire Telegraph

ILYAS Khan has permanently withdrawn all financial offers of support to Accrington Stanley – and Peter Marsden has resigned as vice chairman – following an emergency board meeting after Saturday’s game at Chesterfield.

Marsden called all present board members back into the directors’ box just minutes after the match at Saltergate to reveal a number of financial details he was currently concerned about and urge Stanley to accept Khan’s offer of assistance.

But, after his pleas were not met with support, Marsden opted to resign yesterday and Khan has now withdrawn his offer to save the club should they not be able to pay a £308,000 tax bill by October 28 – when they are otherwise due to face winding up proceedings.

Khan had made two separate offers – first, as the benefactor behind the Accrington Stanley Supporters’ Fund, pledging to pay off all of the club’s debts if they issued new shares.

The investment banker had also expressing his intention, on an individual basis, to match or possibly even double the sum total of all money donated by current directors before the tax deadline.

But Saturday’s meeting, which did not involve joint chairman Dave O’Neill because he was not at the game, brought things to a head.
Supporters’ Fund chairman Peter Shaw last night said: “Ilyas has indicated that he has withdrawn all support. I asked him if there was any way back but he said no.
“Peter Marsden has offered to mediate and the fund has taken him up on that.
“I’m hoping against hope that the club won’t go bust, but the options are diminishing by the hour.”
The Supporters’ Fund will now hold a private meeting tonight to discuss the way forward.
In a statement, Khan said: “I confirm that I have withdrawn all offers of financial support for ASFC.
“I made this decision with a very heavy heart, and after a great deal of consideration. The club and its directors have been particularly focused on assuring everyone that they will see the situation through.
“In the circumstances I can only wish the club, its players, supporters and staff the very best.
“I also confirm that I have spoken with Peter Marsden.
“I know he made a statement to the directors at the board meeting yesterday, and I admire his courage and his integrity, and wish him well in the future.
“Finally, I confirm that the loan that I made in June of £25,000 through the ASSF will be written off by me.
“I do not wish to receive the money back, and it will therefore become an unconditional donation to the club and thereby lessen its debt by a small margin.”

He added: “Over the past three or four weeks it has become very clear that they don’t want to deal with me and there is only so many times you can make an offer and keep having that offer turned down.”
Marsden has resigned as vice chairman but like Khan, who he met in London on Wednesday, remains as a shareholder.
Marsden, who is still considering putting money into the club, said: “I was in favour of trying to get Ilyas involved but I was unable to whip up enough enthusiasm.
“Ilyas is a genuine man who wants to help Accrington Stanley, and I was probably his biggest supporter on the board.
“The club could go bust without Ilyas and, although I still think the club can survive with or without him, I would dearly love him to have some involvement. For the last few weeks I have been saying that I am in favour of a share issue.

“I have resigned because I have just got so disillusioned with the in-fighting. There are a lot of stubborn people at the club. There are a lot of strong characters involved and that’s not necessarily a good thing at the moment.

“I brought a few things into the open at the meeting that I thought should be in the open. It will no doubt all be revealed in time. I did my job and now it’s up to them, because even I don’t have a huge idea of everything that is going on behind the scenes at the moment.

“I’d just like to see an end to the bickering because it is taking the fans’ minds off the SOS fund, and that needs to be the priority. This is becoming deadly serious now.”

Board members were said to be shocked by Marsden’s resignation.
Stanley chief executive Rob Heys said: “Peter has clearly explained his reasons for stepping down and I empathise with him.”

[Doug]

Originally Posted by AccyJay

This is the original text from the Lancashire Telegraph

It's still on the LET site; just refresh it if its not there via the link.

[AccyJay]

No worries. Somebody said the link didn't work.

The "LT" story is different to the "MEN".

[yonmon]

Originally Posted by Wynonie Harris

Story now on the MEN website.

Accrington Stanley face vital 24 hours - Accrington Stanley - Football - Sport - Manchester Evening News

Interesting quote from Rob Heys...

Heys said: "It's now a vital 24 hours in the club's history. A lot has happened over the weekend and we now need to take stock, speak to all parties today and try and resolve the issues."

What does he mean "speak to all parties"? Does this mean reopening talks with the ASSF?

Begs two questions Wyn ...1) Who are the 'WE' who are going to take stock ?...thought they'd already done that at Chesterfield on Saturday in their attempt to condemn the club to History!....
and 2)...Have any of them really got a true conception of what 'the issues' really are , let alone the size of the debacle confronting them ??.

What are they doing to the Club?....and where is your femme fatale..(Sorry SM!) Marcelle ?....

'WHERE TO NEXT ???'

[Wynonie Harris]

Originally Posted by yonmon

Begs two questions Wyn ...1) Who are the 'WE' who are going to take stock ?...thought they'd already done that at Chesterfield on Saturday in their attempt to condemn the club to History!....
and 2)...Have any of them really got a true conception of what 'the issues' really are , let alone the size of the debacle confronting them ??.

What are they doing to the Club?....and where is your femme fatale..(Sorry SM!) Marcelle ?....

'WHERE TO NEXT ???'

I would like to think that they're working hard on a plan of action at the moment and that's why Rob has said what he's said.

As for Marcelle, maybe this is the moment when she emerges from her shell and surprises us all...who knows?