HORNETS’ coach Darren Shaw has called on chairman Norman Halsall and his board of directors to step down and allow ‘fresh faces’ to take the troubled club forward.

Supporters this week appealed to the board for a more open approach in their running of the club, with fans feeling increasingly out of the loop in what are worrying times for the Spotland outfit. At the start of the month the Inland Revenue served a winding up order for £55,000 against the club with a deadline of 14 January.

And with Hornets’ future at stake, supporters are urging officials to keep them informed on the work being

carried out behind the scenes to save the club.

Shaw went one step further, however, calling for the board to step aside immediately.

"I believe it’s in the best interests of the club that the present board step down and allow some fresh faces to carry Hornets forward," he said. "I think we should all thank the board for their service and loyalty over the years, but it’s time for someone else to have a go. For me, there is a lack of leadership and communication right now, and I feel it’s time for change at the top.

"The players have been commendable in their attitude and commitment in what has been a very difficult time for everone at the club."

The Hornets’ board and the club’s accountants held a meeting with the Rugby Football League on Wednesday, but fans are still concerned at what they perceive as a lack of progress since the winding up order was announced at a meeting on 1 December.

The Nest Egg, the independent supporters’ association, has called a meeting of its members at Spotland on Tuesday when the situation will be discussed in depth.

They will be seeking answers to the following issues:

• Why has there been no notification of the Annual General Meeting promised to shareholders at the 1 December meeting?
• Why has there been no communication to the three Nest Egg members who volunteered to join the board?
• Why, 10 days after it had been handed over, had a cheque for £1,000 – a Nest Egg donation – not been banked? The cheque has since been stopped until members’ questions are answered.

The Nest Egg own around 28,000 of the 260,000 Hornets’ shares in circulation, and it takes a 10 per cent shareholding to compel the board to hold an Emergency General Meeting. Members will discuss that option on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the Nest Egg said: "One of the biggest tasks facing the board is bringing unity to the club. As supporters we would just welcome some inclusion. Rumour and counter-rumour can only do the club more harm. We have had terrific support from other rugby league clubs who have offered to help us out but at present the lack of information is not good for potential sponsors, players, and of course, our coach Darren Shaw, whose job is difficult enough.

"Ultimately, we appreciate that these are difficult and worrying times for all of us, and the Nest Egg – as a significant shareholder – remains committed to supporting our club in whatever way it can."

Chairman Norman Halsall defended the board’s work and told the Observer that progress was being made.

"We’re a bit further on after Wednesday’s meeting and we have a fuller picture. It’s not a bright picture, but it’s a more complete one, and now we’ve just got to wait and see what the RFL come back with," he said. "I’m sure they will take as sympathetic a stance as possible because nobody wants to see a rugby club go out of business. Other clubs have entered Creditors’ Voluntary Arrangements in the past, some more than once. We’ve never been in that situation but it may be an option. The RFL have taken figures away which our office staff put together.

"What we really need is an up-to-date set of accounts and an AGM which we’ve not had for four years, but at the moment we’re in a bit of limbo.

"We are obliged to give 21 days’ notice to shareholders for the AGM, so that has got to be put together and obviously we are conscious of the 14 January deadline, so dealing with the Inland Revenue has to be one of our top priorities.

"I’m with the fans, but as board members we are always open to such criticism. I don’t think we deserve it, but that’s the climate we are in.

"If the team is winning we have a good coach – if we’re losing it’s ‘sack the board.’ It’s all well and good criticising, but can they come up with ideas to resolve the situation?

"With regards to the Nest Egg cheque, I can assure you it has been put in a safe position."