New Chairman For The Spartans
7 September 2007
Blue Square North club Blyth Spartans has a new leadership pairing behind the scenes.
Blyth-based businessman Tony Platten takes over as Chairman, following the death of Tommy Hedley, and Board member Kevin Scott becomes Vice-Chairman. In addition Secretary Colin Baxter becomes a Director of the Company.
On accepting the roll Tony Platten stated “Following the regrettable death of Tom Hedley we have a hard act to follow”.
56-year-old Platten who was born in Newcastle, moved to Blyth in 1976 and formed his electronics business, Tynetec, in the town in 1979. The company employs more than 60 staff most of whom live in Blyth.
Although Platten’s business has been a long-term match sponsor of the club it was only during the crisis of 2000/01 that he personally became actively involved in the administration of the Club. During his tenure a new Management Committee was formed and funding was put in place to manage the serious debt crisis that existed.
“The Committee members have a range of professional skills that have guided the Club from the verge of extinction to become what is now regarded as one of the best managed in the Blue Square North” he said.
“Blyth Spartans AFC Ltd has over three thousand individual share holders mostly living in Blyth and holding only a single share each,” he continued. “This means the Club is effectively owned by the community with little chance of an individual investor ever gaining a controlling interest. All of the current Management Committee acknowledge the reality of this situation and are committed to the Club for reasons other than personal gain.
“The Club is still looking to strengthen the Committee and is always willing to talk to anyone who has professional skills that would add depth to its capabilities. Our ambition is full League status and this will require a concerted effort over the coming years.”
It is widely recognised that the financial viability of the vast majority of non-league clubs is dependent on the generosity of an individual or a group of benefactors. Those investors usually have a controlling interest in the club.
“ New investors cannot gain such a position at Blyth Spartans,” commented Platten. “In the past this has hindered several potential investors. Looking at it in the short term such a position might appear to hinder the progress of the Club but under the current management structure a long term and stable future is assured.”
The Club still has an obligation to repay individual investors who made significant rescue loans to the Club in 2001 and latterly to secure the grants for Phase Two of the Croft Park development. Further development plans are in hand with view to enhancing the appeal of the Club to new sponsors.
The Club now has one of the best grounds in the Blue Square North and meets all of the criteria for entry to Blue Square Premier (formerly the Nationwide Conference).
Turning to on the field matters Platten said “Manager Harry Dunn has recently signed a two year contract and has been given an increased budget. The budget will be further boosted if the average home game attendance improves. The team has made a steady start to its second season in Blue Square North with a number of new faces paying an important roll. What we now need is further support for our home matches. An average crowd of more than 1000 is viewed as a requirement to survive in Blue Square Premier should we achieve promotion.”
Platten firmly believes that the “non-league experience” for spectators can be something special.
“Modern Premier League football has become detached from reality. A visit to Croft Park will re-kindle the football of 20 years ago. Standing on the terrace next to who ever you wish at any time rather than being allocated as seat next to a stranger for 90 minutes. A cheap pint in the comfortable Social Club knowing you can be in the ground in two minutes rather than an exorbitant pint of “the sponsors” in a breezeblock enclosure. A “lively debate” with the Manager, players and, dare I say it, referee 15 minutes after the game has finished rather than listening to television pundits - are all on offer! These are the things that non-league football is about.”
Platten concluded with a dream and a reality check.
“We all know the single thing that would transform the future of the Club – a lucrative FA Cup run – but the future of the Club cannot be planned on such an eventuality so it has to be “steady as you go.”
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