Chairman Fired!

Keith Richardson has claimed that he was fired as Torquay United chairman. Unfortunately the replacement isn’t Chelsea’s Roman Abramovich!

Instead it is former Chairman Mike Bateson and this is what Keith Richardson had to say.

He told the Herald Express, ‘I was approached yesterday by Torquay United Holdings director Roy Ruddock and told that Torquay United Holdings had failed to meet the payments schedule as part of the deal which saw Chris Roberts buy the club four months ago.

‘They said that as a result Mr Bateson would be retaking control of the club – with a 51 per cent shareholding – and coming back as chairman.

‘I was left with no option but to resign after it was made clear to me I had to step down as chairman.’

He added: ‘I feel I have been honest and up front in the short time I have been chairman and I have been working for nothing since joining the club.

‘It is in writing that I was willing to invest £250,000 against the security of a debenture in the club and I was prepared to honour that right up until the point I was told to go.

‘Any claims that I had refused to put money into the club are simply rubbish as I had only been in post 10 days and was still getting to grips with the club’s finances.

‘The club has money in the bank right now and so cash is not a pressing problem today. But it certainly will be in the next couple of months and that was where my investment was going to be important.’

Richardson also said he felt for Torquay’s fans.

‘I am sorry to be going but more than that I feel sorry for all the fans who have had to watch the club they love go through such a tumultuous time in its history. I can only hope that Torquay United can rebuild its financial stability, which has been undermined in recent months, and most importantly survive in the Football League.’

What is going on with our football club? Answers on a postcard please…..