Fans will not receive compensation

Last updated : 25 June 2003 By The Chairman

Another blow to Athletic’s suffering fans is that they will not receive any compensation should the team go into liquidation. After the successful play-off season and with the future for once looking brighter the fans responded by
buying 3,400 season tickets, the highest pre-season sales since the Latics were in the Premiership. Unfortunately, as assets would have to be sold off in order to pay creditors the supporters will take a back seat. It’s another hard pill for
the worried fans to swallow! The Inland Revenue and Professional Footballers Association would be the first creditors to be paid and with the players being able to walk away from their contracts there would be no income from possible
transfer sales. The only assets would be the fixtures and fitting which would be like a drop of rain in an ocean.

Fans are now claiming that they have been duped as the club must have been aware that they were selling a commodity which may not have been available. Some fans have paid out as much as £468 for a family ticket which is just not fair if the club goes bust. Wages are due on Friday and if a deal is not settled liquidation will be the only option. Everyone can just wait and hope that a deal can be struck. Ironically, pre-season training is due to start next week and manager Iain Dowie is doing his best to keep the team together. None of his players has said that they will walk away from club but he said, “I’ll be surprised if it doesn’t happen.” A miracle is now needed or the untenable
thought that a famous club will be going out of business will become reality.