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THE ADVENT OF THE 2015 GROUP

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The assertion of Titley and Reeves that a deal with the Melrose consortium would be struck by the middle of January had come to naught. The FL must have been heartily sick of reciveing amended proposals and then turning them down. It seemed to be going nowhere, but maybe there was something afoot. In the context of the Melrose bid, Reeves commented towards the end of March:

“It’s in the balance, but we do need a buyer. And we need this buyer to perform pretty quickly. We’ve extensively marketed the club since last April, we’ve had lots of parties that have been to us to say they may make a bid – but we’ve had no other bids yet apart from the Melrose consortium. However, we think we can get through till the end of the season with funds that we’ve got“.

Reeves went on to say that they were expecting a new bid.

“We are expecting a bid. We were told seven or eight days ago to expect one, so we are confident that hopefully we’ll have a competing bid and that just might be able to push one of the two parties over the finishing line. It’s someone who was formally associated with the club as a chief executive, and one of the prominent fans. They’ve got together with other parties from the Stockport area, so we would just urge them to make their bid to us as quickly as possible”.

The “prominent fan” in the background was Dave Schofield, the mastermind behind the march to Leonard Curtis’ offices just before Christmas. He had taken the initiative and had approached a number of people with regard to forming a consortium to try to break the impasse.

In a truly revealing contribution to “Dark Days Part 1” and “Dark Days Part 2” Dave Schofield describes in great detail how he brought the group together; his interraction with Titley and Reeves; and how the takeover was achieved. He, together with Phil Brennan; Dave Espley; Nick Lee and Russ Johnson discuss the whole sorry episode from the take over by the Trust; administration; the 2015 Group and onwards to the surreal McKnight days. I can really commend the whole series as an insight into County covering a decade.

On the basis that the Dark Days episodes give so much detail it would serve little purpose to tr and summarise it here. Rather, look at the chronology, and the individuals involved.

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WHO WERE THE 2015 GROUP?

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Let me start by saying that Schofield was unquestionably the catalyst, but he was not a part of the consortium which eventually took control. I have seen some ludicrous, ill informed, criticism of him, that he brought together a set of characters who performed badly. I prefer to take the view that he gave County a life-line. Leonard Curtis, (though Titley and Reeves),, had singularly failed to find a ‘buyer’ and if truth is known, had been played for a fool by the Melrose group. There was only one outcome if they were left to it. Without a realistic alternative the Club was unquestionably going to be expelled from the FL, and would not be allowed to play in 2010/11. That was a fact. So instead of carping at him, County fans should have been grateful.

The consortium was formed of husband and wife, Tony and Mary Gibbons; Peter Snape and Sean Connelly, (who had been Chief Executive for a brief period 12 months earlier). The Gibbons, (who owned a white goods business in Hyde), and Snape had been long term critics of the Trust ownership model. There were also others who were prepared to put some cash in. Here was a chance to see what they could do.

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FINALLY – A DEAL IS STRUCK

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From the point that Reeves made the statement in late March it took around 7 weeks until the deal was concluded. The administrators sold the Club, with the blessing of the FL, and including all gym equipment; motor vehicles; plant and machinery; office fixtures and fittings and shop and sundry stock for the grand sum of £210.000.

The Club had survived as a name but it was now a different company; Stockport County 2010 Limited. A convoluted company structure was put in place. This company was wholly owned by Stockport Community Leisure Limited, (SCLL). The personnel in terms of Directors had a fair degree of commonality. Effectively what had happened was that SCLL owned the Club; and provided the finance to facilitate the acquisition.

SCLL had a number of shareholders who in total by 2011 had put in £375,000. The new Club Board started with a clean slate to all intents and purposes, and could put in place their plans to take things forward.

Things were launched with a gala type day. Much excitement and enthusiasm permeated the air. The Directors were Alwin Thompson, (Chairman); Tony Gibbons; Sean Connelly; Peter Snape and Kevan Taylor, (always perceived as being Kennedy’s eye and ears given that he, through the ultimate controlling part of Cheshire Sport, Wilmslow Windows, was still the landlord). Peter Wilson was Secretary.

It’s probably adequate testament to the way that things unfolded that the Board composition changed dramatically in the first 12 months. Wilson lasted a week and Connelly and Thompson were gone with a few months. Mary Gibbons, (who was on the Board of SCLL); Mike Clark and Ken Graham were their replacements.

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OUT OF THE FRYING PAN….

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Suffice it to say that the new custodians of the Club presided over an unmitigated fiasco. Relegation out of the Football League was the headline. But a trading loss, (from a clean sheet start) of £865,000 in a single year took some doing. But they did it…..

So 12 months after the club was saved we started another round of takeover talks. It’s almost beyond belief what transpired not only in 2011, (chancers at large!), through to 2013 and the surreal ‘blue skies’ days of Fearn and McKnight,,,,,,

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Previously: In Administration – Part 3 Next: Beyond Admin – The Company Structure