Browse Sections

• Education
• Special reports

Hornets facing threat of boot in rent row

23/12/2004

ROCHDALE Hornets have been warned they may not be allowed to play at Spotland if rent arrears aren't settled before the new season.

But Paul Reynolds, the club's chief executive, says the only way that will happen is if the matter ends up in court.

The row is over rent owed by Hornets to the Spotland Stadium Company.

Rochdale AFC financial director Graham Morris said: "All we're asking for is the £7,500 they should have paid in respect of the 2004 games.

"We did see £15,000 when Hornets got a £50,000 loan from the council, but we're still owed £79,000 in respect of long-standing debts. They paid some money during the summer, but the last payment we had was in August."

Mr Reynolds hit back, saying: "At the end of August we put £15,000 into the stadium company from part of the council loan. We felt £7,500 should be allocated as rent for the year, so we were taken aback when the stadium company wouldn't agree to it."

Hornets and Dale each own 45 per cent of company shares, with the council making up the other 10.

Councillor Allen Brett, the chairman of the stadium company, said: "Stopping Hornets playing would be a last resort. We are looking at all sorts of options and, hopefully, this situation can be resolved before their season starts."

Mr Morris urged him to take action.

"We always make sure the company pays its debts and myself and David Kilpatrick (Rochdale AFC chairman) have put money in," he said

Mr Reynolds said a cheque for the disputed £7,500 would be in the hands of Dale secretary Hilary Molyneux-Dearden no later than yesterday and the club's accountants would discuss the situation further in the new year.

As for the threat of not kicking off their campaign with the Law Cup fixture against Oldham on Sunday 9 January, he said: "That cannot happen until the matter has gone to the Court of Arbitration and we won't be worried if it goes that far."