The Badgers, as Evo-Stik NPL DIvision One South side Eastwood Town are known, may have played their last game. Their last two matches have been cancelled. In 2011 they came fourth in the Conference North, but could not enter the play offs because of ground grading issues.
The Badgers, as Evo-Stik NPL DIvision One South side Eastwood Town are known, may have played their last game. Their last two matches have been cancelled. In 2011 they came fourth in the Conference North, but could not enter the play offs because of ground grading issues.
Their landlords Broxtowe Borough Council claim that the Badgers have failed to pay rent for three years and owe them £45,000, £28,000 of this being business rates. The Badgers argue that they changed to a not for profit club in 2011 and are entitled to business rate relief on 80 per cent of their business rates, but the Council have refused to grant this relief. This would have reduced their liability to £5,200 which they could start to pay back.
The club have been locked out of their Coronation Park ground by Broxtowe Borough Council, with the council saying they owe them over £45,000 and have failed to pay rent since 2011. The council sent bailiffs to padlock the ground’s gates and office front doors after finally losing patience with the club over its heavy debts. Notices have been posted which forbid entry to the ground by anyone not authorised to do so by the council.
“The council tried everything possible to keep Eastwood Town Football Club open, however we cannot do this on our own,” said the council’s portfolio holder for resources, Councillor Pat Lally. “A complete unwillingness by the club’s owner to pay its bills has left the council with no alternative.”
“We know the disappointment that this will cause to those who support Eastwood Town Football Club and both local members and officers have repeatedly tried to get the club to face up to its financial situation and work with us. The management of the club simply have not tried to resolve the situation.
“It is a mark of how much time and effort the council have been prepared to invest that this situation has been on-going since 2011! The council have made repeated attempts over the years in order to engage with the club to try and set up repayment plans to enable the club to remain open,” a statement read.
“This has included extensive involvement with Nottinghamshire Football Association. Representatives of the club have attended repeated meetings however no payments have been made. In cases such as this the council tries every route possible in order to keep such community organisations open and running but a complete failure of the club to cooperate in any way has left the council with no alternative.”
The club faced a winding-up petition in the High Court at the end of last year.