Yeltz in appeal over future

Halesowen Town chairman Nigel Pitt has called on fans to take over the club when he quits The Grove next summer.

Pitt has has a lack of interest from potential buyers and he and fellow director Mark Serrell have called a public meeting next Tuesday for supporters and businessmen to discuss the future of the 134-year-old club. The chairman has now urged supporters to form a trust to take on the running of the club when he ends his 15-year association with them at the end of the season.

The future of the Yeltz is uncertain after Pitt's announcement that he will leave in the summer but the chairman has pledged he will not depart with the club in trouble.

Pitt said: "We have called a meeting on Tuesday at 7.30pm in the Yeltz Bar so we can speak to everyone concerned and try to get their thoughts on the future.

"Obviously we would like local business people to be there if they are interested in the future of the club, but we also want to see members of The Grove Trust, supporters and local residents."

And Pitt, who has yet to receive any firm expressions of interest in buying his controlling share in the club, believes a supporters' trust could be the answer.

He said: "Quite a few clubs have gone down that road and most of them seem to be doing it quite successfully.

"There is plenty of help and advice available for trusts. Gloucester have been taken over recently by a supporters trust and they have offered their help and advice to anyone."

Pitt is willing to transfer his largest single shareholding for a nominal fee if he is impressed by a prospective buyer.

But he has warned that any new board would need to donate up to £80,000 per year, mainly for for players' wages, to keep the club playing at their current level.