Russell Blasts Cowling Buy-Out
Outspoken Colchester United fan Bob Russell, MP, is fearful over future accountability at the club after this week`s Share buy-out by owner Robbie Cowling.
Aspire Media Group – formally Jobserve online recruitment – company owner Cowling will assume total control of the club within the next eight weeks following his increased stake to around ninety-nine percent.
The remaining one percent of Shares can now be bought by Colwling automatically.
But Russell highlighted the move as undemocratic as far as Colchester United fans were concerned.
He said: “In reality, for the day to day operation of the club, this means absolutely nothing, however, there will no longer be the public annual reports and we will no longer, as fans, know what is going on inside the club.”
He was talking to the EADT and added that Annual General Meetings may now also be scrapped, which he said we reduce fan involvement in the football club.
“Interestingly, what Mr Cowling is doing flies completely in the face of what is happening around the country where fans are being encouraged to take a greater ownership and roles in their clubs,” added Russell.
Cowling has just 35,000 remaining Shares to purchase, having bought 500,000 twelve months.
Russell also said in another paper, the town`s Evening Gazette: “This is the latest sign Colchester United is becoming increasingly remote from the supporters.”
He has become disenfranchised with the running of affairs and resolved last season to stop attending U`s games.
Russell publically decried Colchester United`s memorabilia auction last summer, when he stated that several key items and trophies that went under the hammer should have in fact gone to the club`s new Weston Homes ground.
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