Holker Street Newsletter 1108 - 2nd May 2003

It would appear that in light of the current managerial changes at the club, the spotlight has been taken off something that could be so much more important. To allow the club to come out of liquidation the creditors must agree to effectively allow football debts to be paid while at the same time write off their own debt. Thankfully Barrow Council did their bit and agreed for their debt to be wrote off but how many other creditors will? If a substantial majority isn't achieved, the club may never come out of liquidation. Details of this worrying prospect are contained in the Mail article for which I've included these details first.

Sadly due to time constraints I couldn't produce an edition yesterday and I'd like to thank those who sent in correspondence (which I've included in today’s Newsletter) about the new managerial appointments and associated positions.

I'd also like to wish Lee Turnbull well following the news that he's now taken over as manager and made his first appointments, hopefully we can get off to a good start this season. One thing that I felt the club suffered from last season was a lack of pre-season friendlies and in light of the fact we have a new man at the helm, it may be an idea to organise a few extra to ease him into the job better and this should also help players’ fitness. What do other think? Let us know on hsn@barrowfc.com or just replying to this newsletter.

If you're missing football already don't worry because tomorrow Barrow Reserves are at home to Ossett Town Reserves kick-off 2pm. Entrance for this match is via the Cross Bar and having seen the reserve team myself on a few occasions I can recommend going to see them.

On Monday, Barrow Reserves travel to play Bradford PA Reserves who I hear may be producing a small programme for this match. If anyone has any details on the Barrow Reserve team squad could they send an email to daveossie45@tinyworld.co.uk who is the programme editor.

MAIL WATCH - THURSDAY
Hopes are high that a creditors vote will help save football at the club. A ballot is in progress which is effectively asking creditors to allow the club to pay UKP13,250 to pay off its footballing debts with the deadline for the ballot being tomorrow (Friday). The result of the ballot must go the club’s way before the FA will allow the club to continue playing in the UniBond League. The club must get 75 per cent of all the creditors debt, totalling UKP561,908. to agree to the football debt be paid. Barrow Council agreed to write off a business rate debt of UKP10,873 as irrecoverable but Sterling Fabrications who did ground improvements in the form of crush barriers has had to lay off some staff this year. Their company director refused to divulge whether or not they had agreed to write off the debt after it left them with a few problems. Alan Dunn said that as there's no money to make a pay-out if the claims are chased, then it could hold back football in Barrow. If the vote goes against the club. the FA could rule that football isn't played at the club. The new Barrow AFC manager Lee Turnbull was delighted to have been made the new manager and stated that Barrow are the biggest club outside the Conference, non-League wise. The new manager’s first job was to name assistants, and he's nominated Lee Warren as assistant manager and Ian Arnold as player coach to help build the side from within. Turnbull also said that he'd keep the majority of the squad he inherited from his predecessor Kenny Lowe, but did admit they need fresh faces in attack and was looking at two strikers. Turnbull isn't new to the job and has filled in on many occasions when Kenny Lowe was unavailable. He said that many players would be released from other clubs in the coming weeks and he is likely to be keeping a look out for centre-forwards. Of the squad, the new Doncaster based manager thought that it was a good base from which to mount a title challenge next season. Lee Warren was appointed as assistant as he's very experienced and will continue to play at the heart of the team. At the weekend the squad is going to get together and sit down and talk about the week’s events and if possible discuss a way forward.

Lee Turnbull who was Kenny Lowe's assistant for over three years is delighted about his appointment as manager of the club and has a good background for the job. He spent time at Middlesbrough, Aston Villa, Doncaster, Chesterfield, Wycombe Wanderers and Scunthorpe playing under various managers including Graham Taylor, Billy Bremner and Martin O' Neill. He's aware of the task that awaits him having been here for over three seasons after joining the club in 1999 as a player before moving into management. He's now well respected by the players and also holds the highest UEFA coaching licence that's available.


LIQUIDATION
Thanks to Raymond Wilcock for pointing out about the information in the Mail about the liquidation issue.

The debt of the club in liquidation has been given as UKP561,908 and this is the first time I've heard of this figure or where it comes from or what it includes. Although Barrow Council wrote off the debt, Sterling Fabrications are unwilling to say that they have. Until a settlement is agreed, the liquidator cannot agree to the transfer taking place and this would be probably mean being stuck in liquidation until an agreement was signed (if one ever does get signed). If there's news of a significant development on this issue I may produce a special edition over the weekend.

VIEWS ON LEE TURNBULL’S APPOINTMENT
Thanks to Dave Barter for getting in touch. This was received just after the announcement of Lee Turnbull’s appointment: I think everyone will approve of this decision if for no other reason than to avoid the likely upheaval to the team and rebuilding that a new personality would necessarily introduce. However I feel that in addition Lee has shown that he has the ability, knowledge and contacts to stand on his own as well as continue the plan for the club that he and Kenny have developed over the time they've been in charge at Holker Street. I also hope that Kenny, rather than completely disappear from the scene, would still be able to give Lee advice and assistance and remain associated with the club in some way.

I've been having discussions with colleagues about who would be a suitable assistant to Lee and most of the discussion has revolved around current senior players. Peverell features in some people's minds mainly because of the job he has with Middlesbrough FC and probably because of his geographical location, although being off the scene for a while may mean he needs to gain the respect of players that don't know him. Bullimore springs to my mind because whenever I've heard him and read interviews, he comes across as an eloquent individual who knows about the game, but often appears, in my opinion, to be less of a team player when on the pitch (warming up, goal celebrating) so there are doubts whether he would be suitable. Warren's name also crops up due to the fact he is one of the senior players and obviously has the respect of the rest of the team (players’ player of the year). I would also hope that these players will remain players if they are still able to contribute to next season.

I dare say that Lee will have someone lined up already and I hope that whoever it is, he fits in seamlessly.


ASSISTANT MANAGER
Thanks to Joy Potter for sending the following.

I think the assistant manager position should be offered to Neil Doherty, Neil knows most of the players at the club already and he has contacts through his many years playing football, also Neil has a good relationship with the local lads and I feel he would be a valuable asset to the club, it would be nice to see him return to Holker Street.

John’s Note: As I understand Neil Doherty is still connected with the club through the Football in the Community Scheme. Can anyone confirm that this is still the case?


SUPPORTING BARROW AFC
Thanks to Shaun Tooze for sending in this piece which says what supporting the club is really about.

A kind of rant: I felt quite sad for a moment on Saturday tea-time in the Crossbar. There were whispers that Kenny had gone but it was only when the chairman announced it that it really struck home. I think these things: I'm proud to be a Barrow supporter, I love the club and the town to bits. I reckon Lee Turnbull will do the business, and I'm looking forward to 2003/04 already. We should all be proud. It seems like five minutes ago to me, when I was rolling around on the floor on my back making fists toward the ceiling in celebration of our magical 2-1 win at Kidderminster to keep us in the Conference. I watched it on the BBC vide-printer.

Then, in that Summer, came the news of a possible Boxing Day derby against Holker Old Boys. You remember that folks? No disrespect Holker OB of course, but it would have been the North West Trains Division One or somewhere.

Well folks, we are back, and we are alive. Runners-up is a truly brilliant effort. We have a fine squad of players and the only bad thing all season has been the loss of Holt. However, with Arnold about, Pev in the wings, Anderson, Ridley, Brough, whoever etc...what the hell. And, while I'm on this rant, Gaughan has been fantastic, Salmon is top notch at the back for someone so young, Warren is a battling rock, Liddicott looks a good young keeper, it's good to see new wide players like Brough, Ridley. The future is bright, the future is blue and white. And Kenny?

I've got some other stuff to remember now to go alongside that halfway-line beauty against Colne some time back. See ya later Kenny Lowe, cheers mate.


QUID A KID SCHEME & SEASON TICKETS
Several supporters have been enquiring about the above scheme on the Barrow AFC website and Paul Ackred has posted the following reply.

I have read the comments regarding this with interest and in answer to the question "do we lose money on this scheme" the simple answer is yes. We probably get between 75-100 kids at one pound a time i.e. UKP75-100. If we assume that only 30 of these kids come to a normal game we lose between UKP50-75 every time we do it (30 x UKP5 = UKP150). We are conscious of attracting kids to our home games and that is why last season we introduced two cheap season tickets for under 11s and under 16s.

Under 11s can buy a season ticket for UKP30 i.e. UKP1.36 per game
Under 16s cost UKP55 i.e. UKP2.50 per game.

The under 16 concession also applies to further education i.e. sixth form college. You can be 17/18 at sixth form college and still buy a ticket for UKP55 (with proof). These tickets will continue for the 2003/2004 season and can be paid for in instalments if desired and we will also be continuing the 10 per cent to members who pay in full for their season ticket before the 30 June 2003 (not applicable to kids’ tickets) season ticket prices will be announced very shortly. Also season ticket holders get free entry into reserve games and priority in all ticket games. Please contact the soccer shop for further details 01229 823061


BARROW TEAM PHOTO 1961/62 SEASON
Thanks to Steve Norris in Worcester for highlighting this.

The team photo listed above is currently for sale on the ebay auction site at www.ebay.co.uk and is under item number 2725502061. The picture is a black and white team photo on card in excellent condition, six and half inches wide by five and half inches tall. The auction on this item ends tomorrow night at 7.48pm UK Time. The current bid when the Newsletter went to print was one (UK) pound and fifty pence.


MISSING PROGRAMME
Steve has also been enquiring about a programme he's trying to get hold of. I'm still desperately looking for a copy of the programme from the Barrow v Birmingham League Cup tie in 1962/63, I'm a Birmingham fan.

John’s Note: If anyone has this programme can they get in touch with me and I'll forward Steve's email address.


CONFERENCE PROMOTION PLAY-OFFS - FIRST LEG
Dagenham & Redbridge 2 Morecambe 1 (3447), Doncaster 1 Chester 1 (6857).
Second Legs to take place on Monday kick-off 3.30pm.


UNIBOND REVIEW
From the Official UniBond site at www.unibondleague.com

Caton Steps Down At The Bay: Colwyn Bay have announced that Colin Caton is to step down as manager. The decision made by mutual consent was felt to be in the best interests of the club. This is an emotional moment for a good number of people connected with Colwyn Bay who all wish Colin all the best for the future as it would be difficult to find a more committed individual to the cause of Colwyn Bay FC. His sterling efforts over a decade will be long remembered by those fortunate enough to witness his contributions on the field and his efforts over the past two seasons as player-manager reflect his tremendous loyalty. Colin will be regarded by all at the club as a truly genuine person, his quiet demeanor hiding an impressive strength of character. Colin will always be welcome back at Llanelian Road as North Wales people recognise that at heart he will always be a Colwyn Bay supporter.

Club Of The Month: The Premier Division award was won by Accrington. They will receive their award at tomorrow’s Peter Swales UniBond League Challenge Shield game against Marine. The winner in UniBond Division One was Radcliffe and they will receive their award before tomorrow’s play-off match against Chorley.

Fair Play Award: Awarded to the team in each Division with the best disciplinary record for the month. Each month the winning club receives a 1.5 litre bottle of "Famous Grouse" whisky and a presentation certificate kindly supplied by the sponsor. The winners for April were Hyde United in the Premier Division and Chorley in the UniBond First Division.

Best Scoring Award: Awarded to the team in each Division with the best scoring record for the month. No club may win this award more than once in the same season. Each winning club receives a special box of wine kindly supplied by the sponsor. The winners for April were Hucknall Town from the UniBond Premier Division and Chorley from the UniBond First Division.

Best Defensive Record: Awarded to the team in each Division with the best defensive record for the month. No club may win this award more than once in the same season. Each winning club receives a full goalkeeper’s kit kindly supplied by the sponsor. Accrington won the award for the UniBond Premier Division while Bamber Bridge won the award for the UniBond First Division.

DR MARTENS AND RYMAN LEAGUES
Apologies that I didn't have the chance to include the results and League tables for this and the Ryman League last weekend but hopefully the final results and tables will be included next week.

The following story was on the Non-League Paper site at http://www.nonleaguedaily.com/news

RYMAN SWITCH FOR CHELMSFORD
Chelmsford City's visit to Newport County on Saturday may mark the club’s last-ever game in the Dr Martens League. Following the movement of clubs to and from the Conference, a vacancy is expected to arise in the Ryman League Premier Division. With this in mind, City have registered an interest in making the switch and have volunteered to move over in order to counter-balance the elevation of Aldershot Town to the Conference and the relegation of Nuneaton Borough, Southport and Kettering Town. The UniBond League will accommodate Southport but with both Nuneaton and Kettering likely to return to the Dr Martens League, the Clarets are good candidates to fill the void. However, there is a strong possibility that, due to the restructuring of the Pyramid expected for the start of the 2004/05 season, the Dr Martens League may run with 23 teams.