Update from Chairman Dave Pottinger on club's benefactors
The club are pleased to confirm that, along with all board members, our Far East benefactors have once again passed the Football League’s ‘fit and proper persons test.’
The first test was conducted voluntarily in 2010 before the club received investment from its benefactors, which steered Crawley Town out of the threat of bankruptcy.
Since then the benefactors’ financial support has helped Crawley Town gain two promotions and we are now an established Football League club enjoying the most successful period in our 119-year history. We are a small club with a limited fan-base and whilst the board tries to steer the club towards self-sufficiency we are dependent on generous individuals who love Crawley Town and want to help financially on and off the field.
Chairman Dave Pottinger said: “The club have always tried to be transparent with our supporters regarding the income we receive from its benefactors, but we also have certain obligations to them.
“Our benefactors have never sought glory or credit. They have only asked that supporters respect their right to privacy so they can continue to enjoy watching their team.
“At times the club has been stuck between a rock and a hard place. It has been an extremely difficult balancing act, because we are unable to explain every decision we make publically, which will remain the case because of our commitment to our benefactors regarding non disclosure and commercial sensitivity.
“But we are confident that the majority of our supporters think that the board has always acted with the best interests of the club at heart even if it is difficult to keep everyone happy.
“In July, the board were contacted by the Crawley Town Supporters Alliance, who were seeking reassurances about the funding and ownership of the club.
“We consulted the Football League who confirmed that the club was within its rights to keep information about our benefactors confidential.
“But as a gesture of goodwill, and following further correspondence from the CTSA, the benefactors voluntarily agreed to take the ‘fit and proper persons test’ again which they were happy to do so.
“We have now received confirmation from the Football League that all board members and benefactors comply with the provisions of the ‘fit and proper persons test’ and we are happy as a board to make this information known to all our supporters.
“As we have consistently stated, the ownership of the club remains within the boardroom with director Matt Turner and myself each owning 50 %.
“The directors look forward to meeting our season-ticket holders at the Audience With The Board event on Friday, September 18.”
