Former Notts County owner offers to pay for civic reception for play-off winners

Former Notts County owner Alan Hardy has offered to pay for a civic reception for the National League Play-Off Final winners after Nottingham City Council said it couldn’t afford it.

The Magpies, who beat Chesterfield on penalties at Wembley on Saturday, will return to the Football League next season after a four-year absence.

However, the team won’t be afford a balcony appearance at the Council House in Nottingham’s Old Market Square – as Nottingham Forest were when they won the Championship Play-Off Final last season – after the council said that “increased pressures” on its finances mean that a similar event won’t be staged.

This morning (May 16), Hardy, who sold the club in 2019 after relegation to the National League after a controversial and tumultuous couple of years, said the decision was “ridiculous” and offered to stump up the cash himself.

Ridiculous decision.
Please find out the cost @BBCNottingham as I will pay for it.

— Alan Hardy (@Bigalanh5) May 16, 2023

Hardy owns the Nottinghamshire Golf and Country Club. He remains a divisive figure with Notts fans, many of which blame him for the club’s spell in non-league football.