MX23RW : Saturday, December 28 11:05:51| >> :600:5024864:5024864:

Hamilton Academical chief executive fears for club's future

The annual rental income was worth about £300,000.

Hamilton chief executive Colin McGowan has expressed his "overwhelming fears" for the future of the club after council bosses decided to stop renting offices at Foys Stadium.

In a 2,800-word open letter, McGowan expressed his "bewilderment" at the decision of South Lanarkshire Council and the Lanarkshire Valuation Joint Board not to renew a 20-year lease.

McGowan warned he would have 168 sleepless nights trying to figure out how to replace the annual rental income, which is worth about £300,000.

Addressing his "distress, anger and overwhelming fears for the club's future" to council chief executive Cleland Sneddon, he wrote: "I have thought about your decision to terminate the lease at great length and I cannot see, apart from their own beneficial reasons, how this will benefit the community.

"Reasons I assume are merely financial and not based on the impact it will have on so many who rely on the community work that goes on inside the doors of HAFC.

"We will now bear the responsibility of replacing this vital income which as I am sure SLC are more than aware, will not be an easy task given the unforeseen circumstances 2020 has brought upon us all."

McGowan added: "HAFC are committed to changing lives through ensuring the people in the community we serve feel safe, are better connected and more socially cohesive and in turn have improved family relationships through the support packages we provide.

"It is therefore my astonishment at the decision that has been made to vacate the premises on 21st May next year and I feel strongly that SLC are completely neglecting their responsibility and duty of care to the local community and are therefore denying the capacity for change."

After listing many of the community projects the club are involved with, McGowan finished by pleading with the council to negotiate an extension of the lease or provide the club with a £299,000 "goodwill" payment to cover a year's rent if it moves out.

ID:425142: cacheID:425142:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2680:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
A general shot of a Premier League football ahead of the Premier League clash between Everton and West Ham United at Goodison Park on October 30, 2016
Read Next:
Aaron Martin: 'Joining Hamilton was right decision'
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1FalkirkFalkirk19133337172042
2Livingston18106224111336
3Ayr UnitedAyr18104429171234
4Partick ThistlePartick178542011929
5Queen's ParkQueen's Park187472020025
6Raith Rovers176381722-521
7Greenock MortonMorton174761521-619
8Hamilton AcademicalHamilton175392330-718
9Dunfermline AthleticDunfermline1944111725-816
10AirdrieoniansAirdrieonians181314836-286


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!