Tuesday, 6th January 2009

News Archive

Statement Re FC United Of Manchester

The UniBond League are disappointed that a member club, FC United of Manchester, has made the decision to publish on their Official Website a statement which brings in to question the integrity of the League and its serving officers.

The UniBond League confirmed that the fixture Curzon Ashton v FC United of Manchester was to remain as published to kick off at 12:45 on the 29th December. At a meeting between Mr John Warrington of Invision and League Officers, Mr Warrington, mainly due to concern relating to threats he had received against his TV crew and their equipment, made the offer to stand down from broadcasting live the Curzon Ashton fixture but the League did not agree to this suggestion.

Curzon Ashton FC were made aware of their responsibility to ensure the safety of all people attending the game and they have conducted themselves impeccably throughout the whole of this sorry affair. The safety issues included FC United supporters who had expressed concerns that they did not support the boycott but were frightened for their personal safety from a minority who wished to take aggressive action against anyone who didn't share their views.

FC United of Manchester Football Club have made reference to a meeting between itself and two of our league officers. This meeting was facilitated by Mr Andy Walsh at the request of the club to discuss the commercial operation of FCUM TV and how the UniBond League's agreement with Invision would impact on the ability of FCUM TV to transmit pre recorded or live transmissions via their own website.

The Terms of Reference for this meeting could not have included any dispensation to League Rule 8.13 which states "The Competition Secretary reserves the right to amend scheduled fixtures and kick-off times to meet television requirements as necessary."

The league officers attending the meeting on July 10th categorically refute the accusation made by FC United of Manchester that a verbal agreement relating to kick off times was made. Had they done so, then these officers would have been acting outside their authority.

However, by accepting promotion to the UniBond League, FC United of Manchester, like all UniBond League member clubs are obliged to accept unconditionally the articles and rules of the competition. These rules are not subject to negotiation by any one member club.

FC United of Manchester have not lodged any official document to the UniBond League stating they have a problem with rule 8.13. If they had done so it would have been dealt with through the due processes of the league and would have been recorded in the minutes of the meeting the correspondence was considered.

FC United of Manchester also make reference to a document distributed to all member clubs as a "Frequently Asked Questions" [FAQ] that was sent to clubs in November. This FAQ is a document that makes no reference to kick off times which are covered in rule 8.13.

FC United of Manchester have stated that the UniBond League ignored the wishes of both clubs after having initially consulted them over the change to the kick off time. As with all matches that are subject to being covered by NPL TV the home club is consulted as to the operational logistics required by the TV crew.

Curzon Ashton FC were consulted to ensure there would be no operational difficulties with regards to bringing the kick off time forward. FC United of Manchester were told of the change to the kick off time as part of a telephone conversation covering other matters of league business.

FC United of Manchester did state they were not happy with the proposal, and as is the position for all clubs, they were entitled to have their case considered by the League Management Committee. This was done on the 5th December and is recorded in the minutes of that meeting.

The decision was that the game should be played with a kick off of 12:45. Both clubs in accordance with league rules were informed of the change to the kick off time.

The UniBond League is disappointed that FC United of Manchester advised their supporters not to attend the away fixture at Curzon Ashton as this action only harms one of their fellow member clubs.

It couldn't put pressure on the league to change rule 8.13 as this can only be done through a process involving all clubs nationally at Steps 1-4 [Conference National to NPL/SL/IL First Divisions] and it also didn't give FC United of Manchester FC any leverage in making them an exception to rule 8.13.

The UniBond League have the right to conclude that, by taking promotion to the league, FC United of Manchester accept unconditionally the rules of the competition. However, if they believe that the ethos of their club has difficulty embracing those rules then the club must seriously consider at which level of football they wish to play.

UniBond League Chairman Peter Maude added: "The decision of FC United of Manchester to contest the kick off time of their game at Curzon Ashton on Saturday 29th December, a FIFA requirement to enable the game to be televised live, has led to a number of unwelcome issues and allegations which constitute a total negation of the sporting ethos of the UniBond League and its member clubs.

Different recollections of what was said and what was meant at an informal meeting in July between League representatives and FC United of Manchester officials seem to be at the centre of the problem, and without notes of the meeting, there can be no satisfactory conclusion.

However, the UniBond League Board of Directors have every confidence in their League Officers and individual members of the Board to carry out their duties for the express benefit of our member clubs without fear or favour and their integrity is without question!"

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