Club in limbo as court halts move

The future of Halesowen Town FC has been thrown back into limbo after an injunction was imposed stopping the club going into administration.

A High Court hearing ruled the shareholders' decision to appoint a new director and place the club into the hands of administrators was not valid. The ruling has again plunged the debt-ridden club into uncertainty, not long after it was banned from all footballing activity by the FA after failing to pay money owed to two clubs and a player.

A further AGM will now need to be called to discuss the future of the club.

Ousted owner Morell Maison and director Kelly Gentles objected to the resolution to file for administration after claiming the meeting had been held without their knowledge and attendance.

At the AGM on July 23 it had been agreed to appoint Janet Nelson as director and this was also challenged at the Civil Justice Centre in Birmingham yesterday.

Mr James Barker, representing Mr Maison and Miss Gentles said the only notification for the meeting was through the club's website. He added this could only have been organised through the director at the time.

Mr Barker said: "Neither Kelly Gentles or Morell Maison knew anything about the meeting."

Mr Richard Ascroft, on behalf of the club, said Mr Maison had 46 per cent of shares in the club and would not have won the vote.

He added the club's poor financial position meant there were many demands for unpaid creditors.

But His Honour Judge David Cooke said: "It seems to me far from certain if another meeting took place they would not be successful in getting shareholders to take their view."

A consortium of shareholders last week completed a takeover at The Grove with help from supporters group The Yeltz Trust.

The consortium said it had cleared debts so the club could play again.

It had previously been banned from playing any games because of the debts which formed part of a larger £250,000 deficit.