JED McCrory has given his take on Lee Power’s chequered recent history in business, backing Swindon Town’s new investor to make an impact at the County Ground.
The news that Power is expected to join the Town board in the coming days has been met by an air of trepidation amongst the fans, who have concerns over the collapse of the printing business Cre8 Publishing, which the 40-year-old founded, as well as his role at Rushden & Diamonds.
McCrory told the Advertiser that Power was poised to put around £1.5million into the club in an “equity partnership” while taking on a chunk of the substantial running costs at the Robins, as and when he passes the Football League’s fit and proper persons test.
“Lee was a board member of Thomas Cook Sport for two years, he negotiated multi-million pound sport travel contracts for major clubs. He was chairman of Cambridge United, he brought it out of administration and appointed Jimmy Quinn as manager and took the club to the play-offs. He also owns the Racing Plus, which is a weekend racing newspaper which sells circa 20,000 copies a week and has been a sponsor of Millwall for the last two years,” he said.
“He was a director of Rushden & Diamonds for one year. In between him leaving as a director and that club going into administration, there were two other owners of that football club.
“At Cre8 Publishing he was a director for one month before it changed ownership. Lee resigned from the board, he then moved to Switzerland and two years later Cre8 ceased trading – which he had nothing to do with.
“Lee’s disappointed it’s broken like this. He and I feel it is unfortunate for both him and the club, as he is a private individual who I have known for many years. He’s committed to underwrite a percentage of the ongoing costs which are currently substantial - the previous running costs which are still running.
“We’re disappointed news broke like this as the paperwork is still currently being reviewed by the Football League.”
McCrory and his board remain the subject of much scepticism around Swindon, with a lack of clarity over affairs at the County Ground a widely debated topic at present. However, the Town chairman has agreed to sit down with board members of the STFC Supporters Club and Trust STFC at a meeting organised by the Advertiser to answer fans’ questions.
Meanwhile, he said that he is still on the look-out for further investment in the club.
“Lee is coming in and we’re still reviewing other investors to take the club forward and will continue to do so,” he said.
“I’m starting to really enjoy being part of Swindon Town Football Club.
“Apart from a few niggles that you get in football I’ve been made to feel welcome by the majority of people and I want to try to help to get this club forwards.
“I’ll be here as long as the fans want me here.
“To bring the club forward I always told everybody that I’d always be looking to bring investors into the club.
“I will continue to do the best I can for the football club, to take it forward and make it a sustainable model for the community to come to and enjoy.
“I’m sorry to the true fans who have had to put up with it but bear with me on this rollercoaster.”
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