CLUB CHAIRMAN STATEMENT

I am looking forward to meeting with supporters this evening, which will take place in Stripes following the men’s first team open training session at York Road. The open training session will start at 7pm, with the supporter meeting commencing afterwards about 8pm. 

 

Clearly 2023 was an extremely disappointing year for the club, with the new Liberal Democrat and Borough First administration reneging on the Council’s commitment to enable the delivery of our community stadium proposals at Braywick. This decision has deprived the town and its community of much needed additional football and wider community sport facilities whilst detrimentally impacting the growth and development of the football club and all we do in the community. 

 

We have had no contact from Council officers or members since this decision was made however, despite our frustration, we remain open for engagement with them about potential next steps given the need for new and improved football facilities in the town has not gone away. We still need improved stadium facilities which can be used 7 days a week; we still need additional astroturf, playing pitch and futsal facilities; and we still need to raise a significant amount of capital funding to enable us to meet these requirements. 

 

Our priority in the short term must be to focus on the future and finding solutions to these challenges, so we have decided not to pursue further legal action against the Council. Whilst it is clear the Council failed to meet their contractual obligations to the club and their decision-making process was flawed, it would not be prudent to commit to a lengthy and expensive legal action which, if unsuccessful, could risk our financial future. Even if we had successfully challenged the decision, the simple truth is that Council and the vocal minority would simply have continued to block our plans through the planning process. 

 

A ground move remains the most suitable/sensible option for the club because the sale of York Road is the most realistic way of both realising the significant capital funding required to deliver the new and improved facilities the club requires, whilst maintaining the community benefit ownership model of the club’s ground and facilities. We will continue to explore the potential for a ground move however we are realistic and recognise this is unlikely to be achievable within the short term, given we remain committed to keeping our stadium in Maidenhead and that Braywick is the only suitable site in Maidenhead we have identified for a relocation. 

 

We also have immediate challenges which must now be addressed. We can no longer ignore the requirement to spend money at York Road given our safety certificate and ground grading could be at risk if we do not deliver improvements to the terracing and barriers thoughout the ground, to our clubhouse and changing facilities, as well as our disabled facilities. We also have to maintain a focus on improving the financial sustainability of the club and delivering the additional facilities we need to enable our ongoing development and growth. 

 

 

Please be certain my family’s commitment and ambition for the continued success, growth and development of Maidenhead United FC both on and off the field remains undiminished. We will continue to work hard to keep the club moving forward and are grateful for the continued trust, loyalty and commitment of our supporters and all others engaged with the club.