Irfan Liaquat to sell Blyth Spartans as potential deal reaches 'advanced stage'

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The decision to put Blyth Spartans up for sale was confirmed on Wednesday morning.

Blyth Spartans owner Irfan Liaquat has confirmed he has decided to sell the Northern Premier League club ‘with immediate effect’.

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Just under eight months have passed since the Tyneside-based businessman announced he had agreed a takeover deal with former chairman Tony Platten and revealed former Leicester City and Luton Town striker Steve Howard had been named as the club’s first ever sporting director. However, the takeover was not formally completed until the middle of April, just 24 hours before Spartans were relegated for only the second time in their history following a heavy home defeat against Brackley Town on the final day of the National League North season.

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The departure of manager Jon Shaw was confirmed weeks later before Liaquat made his first managerial appointment when former Newcastle United winger Nolberto Solano was named as Spartans boss in early May. The decision to hand the Peruvian his first managerial role in England proved to be a disaster as a haphazard pre-season and underwhelming summer recruitment led to a poor start to the new Northern Premier League Premier Division season. Following a 4-1 home defeat against Morpeth Town on the final Monday of August, Solano’s reign was brought an abrupt end after Spartans failed to win any of their opening five games.

Assistant manager David Stockdale was placed in caretaker charge before behind given the role on a permanent basis and has overseen league wins against Workington and Stockton Town - but a run of three consecutive defeats have seen Spartans slip to the bottom of the table. The recent FA Trophy home loss against Stockton saw supporters group ‘Blyth’s Green Army’ call for a boycott of the game in protest at Liaquat’s handling of the club, with a crowd of below 400 venturing to Croft Park, with over 100 visiting supporters included.

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In a lengthy statement released on Wednesday, Liaquat reference the protests as he said: “I am writing to inform you that, after careful consideration and in light of the “current situation” with the ongoing boycotts, and protests, I have decided to sell the Football Club with immediate effect. I would also like to announce I am in advance stages with a potential sale to a strong party who have the means, and capacity to take the club forward. We will keep you updated with the sale progression accordingly.

“I took over a “distressed asset” in May this year, (two days before relegation) in a desperate attempt to save the club which was clearly in a very difficult situation both financially, and with stability, having avoided relegation over the past few seasons before we took over that you are all aware of (thanks to COVID restrictions). Despite Tony Platten writing off a £700,000 directors loan which he accumulated over a 25 year period, the Club needed ongoing financial support, with the skill set to stabilise, improve, and grow.

“This was an exciting and extremely challenging project that I had agreed to take on with my team. The boycotts and protests are not only damaging the reputation of a long standing and historic football club, but equally having a strong financial impact towards the sustainability and the future of the club. We lost some key members from our team due to unfortunate circumstances, but we stood strong and pushed for the better of the Club, its future, and it’s amazing fan base.”

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Liaquat went on to detail the investment he has put into the club and called on supporters to get behind the club over the coming weeks and months.

He said: “Furthermore, I have personally injected a cash sum of Circa £63,000 via director loans to date as an investment, and took on additional costs totalling over £100,000 towards the sustainability and growth of the Football Club as I had initially committed. And for the avoidance of doubt, I will be writing off all the loans before the Club is handed over to any new owners. Lastly I would like to request you continue to support this amazing Football Club, and keep backing the players. There is over 30 games to go, and a few wins with strong support will get us out of the relegation zone. You have a very enthusiastic first team manager who is continually improving the team, and will also drive them with passion and dedication to get the results we need. This is your Club, and the club needs you now more than ever.”

Spartans are back in action on Saturday when they face Gainsborough Trinity at Croft Park.

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