Scunthorpe crisis deepens as local club denies knowledge of ground share plan

28 September 2023 , 14:09

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Scunthorpe United will no longer play games at Glanford Park from next month

Scunthorpe United have confirmed in a statement that owner David Hilton intends to withdraw his funding from the club and that they will no longer play games at their Glanford Park stadium as of next month.

However, Gainsborough Trinity - the club whose ground Scunthorpe intend to use going forward - have insisted that the statement was issued "without their knowledge or consent".

The Iron are currently mired in the sixth tier of English football after suffering back-to-back relegations over the past two seasons amid a backdrop of serious financial issues. Hilton purchased the club from the unpopular Peter Swann for a nominal fee back in January, but the situation at Scunthorpe has deteriorated further since.

Hilton announced earlier this month that the club had been "made available to purchase to the right people" due to the "significant" amount of debt that has been racked up, while the Iron chief has also clashed with fans.

In a statement released on Thursday, it was confirmed that Hilton would no longer be funding the club before outlining that no interested parties were currently looking to move forward with a potential purchase. The statement read: "The club Owner and Chairman has recently notified the Board of Directors of his decision to withdraw his funding from the club moving forward.

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"He has also notified them that he feels his position at the club is untenable, and is actively seeking a way out. Based on this information, both Ian Dawson and Tahina Akther have decided to resign from their positions with immediate affect.

"We can confirm that numerous parties have made contact with the club with a view to taking over, but faced with stadium issues, numerous litigation proceedings and winding up petitions no potential purchasers are looking to move forward. This includes the consortium of local business people and supporters."

Whilst a plan of action to make the club sustainable will be immediately put into practice, the statement went on to reveal that Scunthorpe will no longer play matches at Glanford Park, their home since 1988, following next month's fixture against Brackley Town.

It has been confirmed that Scunthorpe United owner David Hilton will no longer fund the club

The statement added: "The club will vacate Glanford Park after the Brackley Town fixture and fulfill the season's fixtures across at Gainsborough Trinity. This is not a day-to-day cost cutting exercise. This is due to Coolsilk refusing to engage with the club and demanding vacant possession before they will begin to do so."

The stadium has been owned by Coolsilk, a company belonging to Swann, since 2021. Mirror Football detailed how Hilton and Swann have been locked in a dispute over the agreed-upon deal for the ground back in July.

Gainsborough Trinity's stadium has a capacity of just 4,304 - however, the club confirmed shortly after Scunthorpe's statement that such a move has not been agreed.

In a brief statement of their own, Gainsborough Trinity said: "Gainsborough Trinity FC are aware of a statement issued today by Scunthorpe United. This statement was issued without the knowledge or consent of Gainsborough Trinity.

"Whilst the club has always been clear that any requests from Scunthorpe United to play fixtures at the KAL Group Stadium would be considered, this would always have to be done by due process which would involve both clubs and the ground owner."

Dan Marsh