Blyth Spartans Launch Crowd Funding Appeal to Secure Club's Future

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Blyth Spartans AFC has launched a crowd funding appeal to help secure the immediate future of the club, facing financial challenges that threaten its existence. The club stands at a crucial crossroads and is raising funds to secure the future of this historic club, with a rich history and deep community roots. It is now just over three months since majority ownership of Blyth Spartans AFC was transferred over to the Community Interest Company (CIC) established for the purpose of safeguarding the existence of the club on behalf of supporters and the wider community.

Prior to the establishment of the CIC, there was a real prospect of the club entering administration, and possibly even worse, liquidation. The community came together to rescue the club, but now faces a new challenge with a much clearer picture of the financial position of the club, which has become clear is not sustainable. In addition to the support shown by fans and local businesses in the form of sponsorship, members of the CIC have taken up the shortfall to pay wages over the last 3 months. However, this is not sustainable, and the club needs to urgently close the gap between income and expenditure. The club wants to develop a five-year plan to rebuild and restore it to former glories, sustainably, and will involve supporters and the community in shaping the future, but first, it must survive.

The response to the crowdfunder has brought some positivity, with over £13,500 of the target raised inside the opening seven days, and support coming from around the globe. However, the club's existence remains under threat, and the chairman has warned that the club needs to make sure it does what it can to come through a concerning situation. The club is hoping to move towards supporter ownership, which would mean transferring some of the equity to the fan base, but it is having to back-build by sorting out a supporters trust and rebuild the club. There will be a lot of hard work needed, and people have to understand what that means for the town, the benefits it can bring to the community, and in return what benefits the community can bring to the club.

The club's history is rich, and it has been involved in some remarkable matches, including a famous FA Cup fifth-round match against Wrexham at St James Park in 1978. The match was played in front of a crowd of over 42,000, and although Blyth Spartans lost 2-1, it was a memorable night for the club and its fans. The club is now asking for help to secure its future, and fans who were at St James Park in 1978 may consider donating to the crowd funding appeal. The club's official announcement can be found on its website, and donations can be made through the crowd funding page.

The situation is critical, and the club needs the support of its fans and the local community to survive. The club is facing financial challenges, and the crowd funding appeal is a crucial step in securing its future. The club's fans and supporters can make a difference by donating to the appeal and helping to spread the word. The club's future is uncertain, but with the support of its fans and the local community, it can rebuild and restore itself to its former glory. Some of the key information about the club's current situation and the crowd funding appeal includes:

• The club has launched a crowd funding appeal to raise £25,000
• Over £13,500 has been raised in the first seven days
• The club is facing financial challenges that threaten its existence
• The club wants to develop a five-year plan to rebuild and restore itself
• The club is hoping to move towards supporter ownership