8th August - Devils Trust statement

This statement is to clarify any misunderstndings that followed the joint statement regarding the meeting at the club on Monday 7th August.

The meeting was facilitated and organised by the Supporters Club in an attempt to find a way forward and common ground between three parties that have for the last few months been at loggerheads over the future direction of the football club. The Supporters Club should be applauded for taking this initative and for the speed in arranging the meeting, something the Trust have sought for many weeks without success. Our thanks go to them for doing so.

Many will be concerned why the Trust was prepared to meet with a party that for so long they have held in contempt. The Trust have been involved in serious negotiations with two parties who wished to acquire the club:

One had a business plan based on liquidation and a resurrected club in the Ryman League (which he was confident would be possible) and tto build th business and football operation from that point on a reduced cost-basis. There were mixed reactions to this proposal with a lot of people indicating that the prospect was better than the club remaining in Majeed ownership.

The other involved a consortia who wished to run the club as a part-time football operation in the Conference and involved partnesr with a proven track record at the Conference level.

The Trust took a view that the level of risks associated with the first option were too high and a combination of the Insolvency laws coupled with the current FA rules meant that it was never going to be a fair fight in a bidding war with the current incumbents while they remain the people who would benefit from a sale and also the largest creditors.

The Trust has been of the opinion for several weeks that if the football club remained under the ownership of the Majeeds it would not be in the best interest of Crawley Town Football Club. That position has not changed. There is mistrust in them and it is also fair to say that mistrust is reciprocated

However, whilst continuing to explore other possible investment avenues, the Trust has had to face up to the fact that that option is a very real possibility and to deal with that outcome.We think that the trust must do whatever is required to represent the interest of the trust, its members and the wider community

We were given an opportunity by the administrators to produce a series of reassurances that we required the S A Group to give to us regarding the future funding of the club, the future conduct of the owners and about it's relationship with the Supporters, the true heart of any football club” would serve us better. That letter was given to the Majeed brothers, via the administrators, and formed the basis of the meeting on Monday 7th August

Following the meeting, the SA Group agreed to all those requests. That included the offer of an observers seat on the board, offered by the Supporters Club, not by the SA Group. The Trust accepted those assurances in good faith although as yet, they have yet to be tested in practice. The Trust has effectively tried to put in place a series of checks and balances should the SA Group retain control. It has not, did not promise to, and will not endorse the bid from the SA Group to the administrators. It did accept however that there was a chance that the SA Group could retain control of the club.

The Trust issued a joint statement alongside the Supporters Club on the things we agreed on. Contrary to other reports, nowhere in that statement did the Trust, or the Supporters Club, endorse the SA Group bid to the Creditors Committee. It also has no power to do so, although both parties made their joint statement available to the administrators following a request from Begbies Traynor to be passed to the Creditors Committee.

The Trust continues to try and find the best possible solution for the future of Crawley Town Football Club and even at this late hour is preparing to talk to investors willing to take the club forward, as a Conference National club now or in the future. In the meantime, supporters should make their own decision as to when and where they cheer on their team and no one supporter should be criticised or intimidated by whatever personal decision they take.

At the time this statement was issued, noon, Tuesday 8th August, the Creditors Committee had still not concluded it's decision.