Dear Players, Members, Life Members and Vice Presidents,

 

You will all be aware of recent developments in regards to the forced sale of the Chase park facility; as a result we have been unable to use the pitches for a number of scheduled events and training.

 

Over the last eighteen months Ian Gardner was working tirelessly to finesse an equitable deal involving all stakeholders, in the end however we could not prevent the forced sale of Chase Park instigated by the major creditor. During this period we in partnership with the Ladies Club made contingency plans to secure playing facilities within the area in order to maintain the integrity of our joint Club to ensure its future as a viable organisation. These are now in place together with venues to hold post match refreshments for our guests.

 

For those who did not attend the EGM – Ian Gardner outlined in minute detail the challenges of securing the facility at Chase Park for future use, it was hoped Mr. Craig Watts, a major stakeholder would purchase the site for a sum that would clear the debts of Chase Park and allow both Cricket and Hockey Clubs to continue using the facility for the foreseeable future at a mutually acceptable cost to both.

 

We have subsequently been advised by Cannock Cricket Club they have found an alternative facility and therefore will not be seeking to play any future fixtures at Chase Park..

 

The Liquidators on behalf of preferred creditors took the decision to offer the site for sale via an Internet Auction and although a Mr Chaudry was deemed the preferred bidder and his offer initially accepted he subsequently withdrew and so we believe a new purchaser is being sought.  We have been given limited authority to remove some of our moveable assets from the site and we are seeking to find storage facilities to accommodate these, so help in this area would be appreciated.

 

We will be reaching out to whoever is the eventual purchaser of the site to understand in more detail what their actual purchase entails as we believe there are some the fixed assets associated to the site with charges on them, and as with all purchases of this nature the devil is in the detail.

 

Clearly over the last two years issues surrounding Chase Park has had a distracting and detrimental effect on the club’s wellbeing and has been one of the key contributing factors to the haemorrhage of players, who have reluctantly left to ply their trade with other local clubs. This has culminated in us having to reduce the number of teams we can field to meet our league commitments.

 

Our belief is we need to maintain a minimum of four men’s teams to provide the foundation on which to rebuild the club, secure its future which can now be achieved by channelling our efforts in the development of new playing talent now the spectre of Chase Park is no longer an issue.

 

We would therefore like to reach out to all past players to reconsider rejoining Cannock with the opportunity to be part of a rejuvenated and vibrant club with a more certain future. We have been joined by Cannock Ladies and this has added a new dimension to the club, with new ideas and initiatives already beginning to flow.

 

As custodians of the club the committee can only do so much, we must therefore rely on the participation and activity of all the membership both playing and non-playing to join with us to ensure the future viability, longevity and success of the club.           

 

Respice – Aspice – Prospice

 

Ray Sheldon -Chairman

 

We Need You