22nd August - Devils Trust press release

Crawley Town Supporters Trust (The Devils Trust) has agreed that creditors should accept the second CVA proposal even though it means the Majeeds will retain control of the club.

Speaking on behalf of the Trust Antony Weller said: "The Trust has opposed the involvement of the Majeed brothers ever since the club was placed in administration by them at the beginning of June. It has not changed that view as it believes the 'business decision' to go into administration was a reckless, unnecessary and unethical decision.

"We understand some people don't want the Majeeds at any cost but the simple fact is that without acceptance of the revised CVA there will be no football club this season. That opportunity evaporated when the administrators decided to allow this last-ditch offer to be made."

"We therefore have two options. Continue with the revised CVA in the hope that the Majeeds can find the money within 60 days or face being wound up, possibly with no chance of future resurrection."

That view has been proven by the second CVA proposal which, if accepted, will cost the Majeed brothers the same amount financially as it would have cost to keep the club running. In short, the Majeed brothers could have spared the club and its fans all the uncertainty and unrest recently experienced and Crawley Town would now be sitting proudly joint-top of the Nationwide Conference instead of being adrift at the bottom.

The new proposal has only come about thanks to the determination and bravery of the creditors, many of whom have had to endure months of financial hardship through no fault of their own. The revised CVA is a more realistic proposal in so far as it places a time limit of just 60 days on SA Retail to pay up. It means that they have to find around £500k by October 29th if their offer is accepted.

The Trust still has serious concerns that they are unable to achieve this. The large amount of money they need to find, in such a short space of time, appears to hinge on urgent financial investment in the club, investment they have so far showed an inability to obtain because of their actions.

The Trust believes now is the chance for SA Retail Group to show their commitment to the club. They fully expect all of the assurances sought by the Trust in their letter to the administrators of August 4th to be implemented. The Trust remain concerned that a public apology has not yet been forthcoming from SA Retail for the anguish and hurt it has put the club's supporters and creditors through over the last 12 months, including the way they or their supporters used underhand methods to try to secure a positive vote from the creditors committee.

This has been a deeply unsettling time for supporters of Crawley Town Football Club. The blame for that instability lies with the Majeed brothers. The Trust urges them to lay aside their usual practice of shrouding their financial affairs in a cloak of mystery and to seek out new, genuinely independent investment for the club. The investment that they promised when they purchased the club a year ago but have been unable to deliver. Without that future investment the Trust cannot see the long-term viability of the club being sustained.

We sincerely hope that the acceptance of the CVA can mark a turning point where once again Crawley Town FC and everyone associated with it can be regarded as proud members of the football community. We hope it marks an end to the embarrassment of the last 12 months heaped on it by the SA Group.