University calls for football boss to step down as row escalates
The general secretary of a Leicester football team has been asked to step aside after a row escalated to the extent where the pitches it played on were shut by owners De Montfort University (DMU).
De Montfort University closed down Beaumont Town FC’s facilities after reports of students and security staff being “physically and verbally abused” during a protest earlier this month.
DMU says it called police following a recent demonstration which saw 200 parents and children linked to the club gather to oppose the university’s “dictatorship” style. The university has spent £2.1m on the new facilities.
BTFC then issued a statement via its website, in which general secretary Nick Langton said: “Let us be clear that the facilities at Beaumont Park now completed are great but were not delivered on time. Three months into the football season and we have yet to set foot on the new grass pitches. Beaumont Town football Club have yet to be informed that these pitches are available to play on.
“Over the first 12 months of the agreed licence DMU accepted that the committee of BTFC had the keys to operate as they had previously done so under the Leicester City Council for some years. It was only when DMU wanted to change the training timetable to suite themselves that cracks started to appear within the relationship. During this period of time DMU offered little if no systems in which they wanted the club to adopt under this shared partnership and at first hand as the club secretary I am very uncomfortable that it could be suggested we have fell short in any cooperation.”
Langton said his had sent its members to alternative venues in and around Beaumont Leys to accommodate fixtures during the past 15 months, but that they had to “trudge through mud and sludgy water to get to the far pitches in the cold and wet”.
He added: “I can see once the members observed the completion of the development why you would feel upset at the restricted access to a club that has been established for more than 30 years.
“In more than one statement to the media it was stated that DMU has provided extended training times for the club. The extended times however were conveniently left out of these media comments.”
Leicester City Council then stepped in to the argument and DMU has issued a proposal to open the pitches again. This includes:
– Langton stepping down from his role;
– A new committee of BTFC is formed immediately by BTFC to engage directly with the university; and
– BTFC denounces homophobia in line with the FA’s own action plan for LGBT inclusion, its Respect Programme and its support for Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces campaign following what DMU has alleged as “evidence of homophobia expressed on BTFC’s social media channels”.
In return, DMU says it will help with the organisation, coaching, accountancy practices and sponsorship of the Club.
In response, BTFC issued a statement saying: “On behalf of the club its members and indeed the community behind us we must congratulate each other on the solidarity we have shown to the general public in recent times.
“It is without question better to seek the truth and seek higher ground rather than engage in spin doctoring comments to try to gain unrealistic support with no depth of quantity within it.
“Congratulations to all of you that have and continue to support our 33 year old Beaumont Town Football Club with a view to another 33 years of its future in mind.
“The development of our club is unprecedented in achieving the level of status as it has today.
“The club are and will remain in charge of their own destiny and this will be decided by the club and its members only.
“We will be holding its normal managers meeting on Monday 28 th November at a venue to be confirmed. Should our members wish to attend of course you will be made welcome.”
