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DISTANT VICS NEWSLETTER
THE INDEPENDENT NEWSLETTER FOR FANS OF NORTHWICH VICTORIA
NUMBER 431 8th MAY 2008
CLUB NEWS
Lee Steele was voted Player of the Season in a poll of 400 Vics fans after the final game against Cambridge. Michael Welch was second with Scott Tynan and As expected Michael Byrne has been picked for the Welsh squad for the tournament in 2 weeks time that also sees Scott Tynan and Lee Steele in the England squad. The games will be played at Colwyn Bay and Rhyl and then the England squad will fly out for a week in the West Indies.
Dino has made his first summer signing in the shape of Stafford captain Richie Sutton (see `Local Press' below. Dino sees his role as right back and believes he has potential with 2 years experience in
the Conference and onlyu being 22yrs old. He hopes to have news of more new players next week. Mark Roberts would appear to be the second, reported to have signed a two year deal.
Have you a few hours to spare each week? We are looking for volunteers to man the club shop on a voluntary basis. Opening times are 10.0am – 2-0pm weekdays and 10.0am – 1.0pm on Saturdays. If you could spare 4 hours a week on a regular basis contact Dave Thomas at the shop either by calling in or phoning 44127. No money, just a nice warm feeling at being able to help the club and pole position for getting the latest news!
Season ticket prices for those buying on or before May 20th are as follows:
Ground
Adult £200
Youth (12-16yrs) £75
Child (11yrs and under) £23
Family (2 adults/2 children) £395
Stand
Adult £250
Youth £110
Child £46
Executive £495
There will be no rise in price for `pay at the gate' admission next season but children under 11 will be admitted free if accompanied by an adult.
SUPPORTERS TRUST
The Trust board had a good meeting with Jim Rushe last week and agreed on areas where the Trust can support the club. More on this when final details have been agreed but hopefully it sees the Trust
playing a greater role in things and further helping to consign the experiences of the past 2 years into history.
One thing the Trust will do quickly is to loan the club money to fully stock the shop. The actual cost of merchandise will be repaid but the club will keep all profit from sales.
The Trust has provisionally put aside Wednesday 28th May for a social evening. We hope to confirm the venue and the speakers next week.
Observant readers of this newsletter may have noticed that from this week `Distant Vics' has become part of the Trust meaning all newsletters and match reports, from now on, will come from the Trust.
Distant Vics has always had it's own identity even though in later years it was opened up to all fans, not just the `exiles'. As it goes directly to well over 200 fans every week the organisers jealously
guarded this independence during the `dark' days of the last 2 years.
However, we now find ourselves in a new era and we felt it appropriate to demonstrate that the `coming together' of fans is happening here, too. The same people will continue to be involved so you should see no change.
LOCAL PRESS
The Chronicle – John Buckley
NORTHWICH Vics owner Jim Rushe has considered quitting.
He was recently widowed and thought about stepping down as a director. But he is now as committed as ever, he says.
"There was some talk of me leaving in the last few weeks of the season.
"It was a difficult time for me but I am staying and seeing what is expected of me.
"For the club go forward I would still be willing to let someone else have a go.
"But I have enjoyed every minute of it. We did what we said we'd do – save the club – and more, by keeping them up.
"Commercially we are heading in the right direction, but there's a long way to go," he said.
Balancing the Vics books is Rushe's biggest challenge and there are several new fundraising schemes planned. He is the sole owner of Vics after he and Nick Bone saved the club from being wound up in the autumn. Bone heads a consortium wanting to out all the land owned by Mike Connett at the Marston's Arena and a deal is expected to go through in the summer.
The Guardian – Andrew Simpson
MARK Roberts has been told he has no future at Accrington Stanley.
The 23-year-old defender, so instrumental in helping Vics avoid the drop from the Blue Square Premier during an end of season loan spell, parted company with the League Two club today.
"It is a hard time of the year for managers having to let players go," said Stanley boss John Coleman.
"However we haven't performed as well as we would have liked this season and I have to make sure that we are a better side next term."
Roberts featured nine times for Northwich after making a loan switch in March. He also spent six months at his home town club under Steve Burr last season. Dino Maamria is a known admirer and has already discussed the possibility of Roberts signing for Vics on a permanent basis. Another player who spent the climax of the campaign at the Marston's Arena, David Brown, has also left the Fraser Eagle Stadium. Former Witton Albion winger Shaun Whalley is another who has been shown the door.
VICS have unveiled Richie Sutton as their first signing of the summer.
The 22-year-old full back switches to the Marston's Arena from demoted Stafford Rangers, whom he skippered during the final weeks of the season. "He's a player who impresses me," said Maamria.
"Richie is physically strong and has a lot of experience playing at this level.
"Not only that, he is technically very good so will be able to contribute going forward."
Sutton came through the junior ranks at Crewe Alexandra before switching to Stafford on a permanent basis last summer. He had previously turned out for Rangers on loan during their successful promotion to the Conference National in 2006.
Equally at home at right back or at the heart of the defence, Maamria appears to have him earmarked for the full back berth. "I wasn't very happy with everyone who played there last season," he said.
"That was part of the reason I changed to a 3-5-2 formation. "Richie could have stayed at Stafford because they offered him more money, but he chose to come here because he wants to play at a higher level and improve his game."
Sutton's arrival almost certainly spells the end of Michael Bowler's stay at the club. The former Stockport County utility man signed non contract terms with Vics in January but failed to break into the team.
CONFERENCE RAMBLINGS
The future of Halifax Town is hanging by a thread after a meeting of its creditors was adjourned.
Without the adjournment a proposal to pay 2.5p in the pound for all debts would have failed and the club would have been liquidated.
The consortium wanting to take control of the club are now being asked to up their offer to 10p and administrator Rob Sadler warned there were no guarantees. It would mean businessmen David Bosomworth, Bobby Ham and Stuart Peacock would have spent £800,000 to take control of the club and a commitment to fund ongoing losses running at up to £30,000 a month.
Only a handful of creditors turned up personally to the creditors' meeting held at the Shay in the Weaver's restaurant. It was adjourned until 10 am on Friday to the Leeds offices of administrators Begbies Traynor.
Nuneaton Borough have gone to the Football Conference with a proposal to help stave off the threat of the club going into administration and facing a points deduction or relegation. An 11th hour decision was made to cancel this week`s board meeting at Liberty Way where many expected the club to call in administrators. Director Ian Neale said: "We have outlined certain proposals to Conference secretary Dennis Strudwick, who has contacted the twelve members of his board. "We've requested an urgent meeting to discuss the proposals and the best way forward for the club. "Hopefully they can steer us in the right direction and see a way through for the club. The ball is in their court and we now wait to
hear from the Conference."
He continued: "We are not in administration and the club is currently paying all its trading debts.
"We are looking for answers and we want to be transparent and do the best for the club."
A worry for Neale is a clause in the rules of the Conference that could mean Boro would be demoted to the Southern League should they go into administration. He added: "We need clarification on that before making any decision."
Marine have announced that ex-Vics manager Alvin McDonald has been rewarded with a two-year extension of his contract that will keep him at Rossett Park until May 2010.
Ex-Vics players Paul Brayson, Steve Payne and Paul Tait scored for their respective teams in various league play-offs last week. Paul Brayson's Gateshead secured promotion to the Conference South whilst Payne and Tait's teams, Stalybridge and Barrow, meet tomorrow night at Burton to see who joins Kettering in Conference National. Lewes won promotion from Conference South with Eastbourne Borough and Hampton and Richmond contesting the other final. Ex Vics manager Steve Davis has taken Nantwich up to the Unibond Premier.
Stuart Elliott has signed for Grays
Witton's crisis continues with Mike Worthington resigning as chairman and from the board following Jim Vince and Nigel Deeley resigning last week. Worthington's departure may see Vince and Deeley return.
Stevenage Borough have confirmed Graham Westley will take over as the club's manager for a second time. Westley, who left Boro in 2006 after a three-year spell which saw them reach the Conference play-off final in 2005, returns with assistant John Dreyer.
Manager Mark Cooper has committed himself to Conference North champions Kettering Town for the next two years. The Poppies boss signed a contract on Wednesday and the deal will keep him at the A-Line Arena until the end of the 2009/10 season.
The FA have confirmed that both this weekend's Trophy and Vase Finals will have 5000 tickets available on the day from ticket offices around Wembley Stadium. Tickets for The FA Trophy Final are priced at £25 with concessions (U16 and Over 65) at £12.50 while the FA Vase Final is priced at £20
and £10 concessions. Wembley Stadium will be open for business at 10am on both days.
THE BIG BET
This is the last week of the season so this week's winner will pick the first bet of next season.
Enter via the forum, it's free and you may make some money for Vics!
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