Linnets' threat of demotion
THE Linnets will be demoted from the Blue Square North at the end of the season after failing to meet Football Conference ground grading demands.
Subject to an appeal, The Walks outfit are facing up to life in the UniBond Premier Division.
Lynn have failed to upgrade their floodlighting, as well as several other requirements, before the Conference deadline of April, despite being aware that improvement work had to be fulfilled.
Linnets chairman Ken Bobbins said the club were "totally innocent" in the matter.
The Linnets have 14 days to appeal and club officials will meet up with borough council members, who have pledged to spend 250,000 on the stadium, next week to thrash out a case to present to the Conference.
The appeal will be held at the FA, due for the first week in May.
After a difficult campaign, the club only secured its Blue Square North status on the pitch last week.
But on Wednesday the following statement appeared on the club's website.
"The club have just been informed by the Conference that The Walks Stadium does not fulfil their ground grading requirements.
"They have advised us that although the borough council, the owners of the ground, have given their unconditional undertaking that all required alterations will be completed by the start of next season, KLFC will be demoted at the end of this season.
"The club and council have 14 days to appeal and this is being prepared as we speak. In view of the current delicate negotiations being undertaken it is not possible to expand on this at the moment.
"As soon as an appeal has been held full information will be announced."
Bobbins added: "At no time have the Conference said 'You know if you don't start by April 1, you'll be in trouble.'
"The council and the club have been talking with the Conference for months and months.
"The Conference were advised that the council have to go through an awful lot of procedures, because it's public money.
"They're not just going to hand over 250,000.Quite rightly so, as they're the landlord and we're the tenant.
"They also have to do things like get three quotes for the work, and have to get the work recorded by an architect.
"So it's not possible to complete the work in the timescale originally set by the Conference.
underwritten
"The alterations are being done by a government body who have underwritten that the work will be done by the start of next season.
"I've no way of telling if we're being singled out, but I do know that the Conference have known about the situation for months."
Borough council chief executive Ray Harding said: "I'm very disappointed that it has come to this, as we have done everything we can to assist the club.
"The council has approved a substantial additional investment at a time when finance is exceptionally tight due to the impact of the recession.
"This latest investment follows on from previous investment from the council of 200,000 towards a 350,000 to refurbish the stands.
"We will be meeting with club officials next week to determine how best we can assist them with their appeal."
The council revealed it was first approached by the club in December after a Conference ground inspection highlighted a number of issues which needing addressing.
In a brief statement the council said: "The council, having been approached for assistance, agreed to provide financial assistance and contract support to enable King's Lynn Football Club to get the major works completed.
"This included setting aside a budget of 250,000 to carry out works to increase the size of the changing rooms and provide officials' changing rooms and a medical room for players. This sum also included an upgrade to the floodlighting.
"The smaller items were to be carried out by King's Lynn Football Club themselves, including improving signage, adding two extra turnstiles and providing additional room in the dug-outs."
More on Page 92 of today's paper.
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Weather for Kings Lynn
Sunday 01 August 2010
Today
Light showers
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
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