New leadership needed to reach the next level

After showing the EVO-STIK League’s ‘big boys’ that they can’t have it all their own way last season before agonisingly missing out on promotion with the last kick of a penalty shoot-out , Ashton United's fans, players and officials are looking for a new chairman to match their growing ambitions.

Despite the club’s self-imposed prudent financial control, the Robins reached the Premier Division’s promotion play-off final and officials at Hurst Cross say they are proud of the example they’ve set to other clubs who are determined to run themselves as sustainable businesses.

As a result, Acting Chairman and CEO Terry Hollis says the time is now right to introduce the new leadership the club needs to reach the next level after the success they’ve enjoyed. He believes everything is in place for whoever comes including an outstanding football management team and playing squad, fantastic volunteers and officials and a passionate and growing supporter base.

Hollis said: "Ashton United is run very efficiently and unlike so many football clubs we are not floundering under the weight of aged debt. We operate within our means and have, in recent seasons, won the Northern Premier League Doodson Sport Cup and competed in the League play-off final, showing that prudent financial management can achieve success.

"I have always said that my time as Acting Chairman would be temporary as I believe we need to bolster our off the field team with additional commercial ability and contacts. While I will fully retain my association with the club, the time is right to embrace the local corporate community and introduce new ideas to the club and we are seeking to appoint a club Chairman or Chairwoman who will lead the board for the foreseeable future."

Ashton United and EVO-STIK League Director Steve Hobson said: "The club is in a strong position in that we are not in place where we are struggling financially and desperate to bring in new investment.

"All too often we see clubs appealing for a saviour or saviours to rescue them but we want to build upon measured success and to do so we need new faces and the means of generating corporate investment into the club to enable us to grow our infrastructure on and off the field of play."

He added: "We hope to identify a similarly ambitious individual or group of people who have the skills and drive to move our club forward."

For further information contact Steve Hobson via email with a brief note of introduction, contact details and CV at: stevehobsonaufc@live.co.uk.