Port Vale: MP snubbed by directors in bid to help Valiants
STAND-IN chairman Mike Lloyd has snubbed a request for talks over the running of Port Vale by the club's local MP.
Joan Walley, a Vale shareholder whose Stoke-on-Trent North constituency includes the club's Burslem ground, wrote to Lloyd in response to fans' concerns about the future of the Valiants.
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In his reply, Lloyd ignored her call for a meeting, but declared it was for the Vale board to address the issues facing the club.
Walley, pictured below, said: "What I've been trying to do is open a dialogue with the club to get people to answer some of the many questions surrounding the club's finances at present.
"What I want to see is all concerned parties coming together in the best interests of Port Vale.
"I can appreciate why people are so frustrated at the lack of information coming out of the club.
"I've had correspondence with director Mike Lloyd and requested a meeting with him.
"He has responded by saying that it's for the club's directors to address the current issues and that he hopes to have news in the coming days.
"He did not address my request for a meeting."
Walley's intervention comes two months after a Sentinel investigation revealed that Vale directors Peter Miller and Perry Deakin had misled fans by suggesting they had bought shares in the club worth £250,000 and £100,000 respectively, when they hadn't invested a single penny.
Fans also reacted with dismay when an £8m investment deal brokered and trumpeted by former chairman Miller and outgoing chief executive Deakin was found to be worth a fraction of that amount ... and then collapsed completely.
Miller then jeopardised the club's £2.25m loan from Stoke-on-Trent City Council by taking out a £277,000 mortgage against Vale Park which contravened the terms of the agreement with the local authority.
"I understand and share the concerns of supporters and shareholders," added Walley.
"Firstly, the promised Blue Sky sponsorship deal did not materialise.
"Then two of the club's directors were elected to the board by shareholders who had been told they had invested in the club and this subsequently proved not to be the case.
"And it appears from media reports the club has breached the terms of the loan agreement with the city council.
"I think most people would agree that the most important thing is the long-term safety and financial viability of Port Vale."
Two of Vale's current four-man board, Glenn Oliver and outgoing chief executive Deakin, are due to stand down at the club's annual meeting on March 13.
Shareholders will get the chance to also vote out Miller and vice-chairman Lloyd at a subsequent extraordinary general meeting scheduled to go ahead just a few days later.
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19 Comments
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by Tony1975
Thursday, February 09 2012, 1:33PM
“Just catching up with Tuesday nights P&G and have listened to an interview with JW.
She has just said from her own mouth that Mike Lloyd has not snubbed a meeting with her...
So what is actually going on and how many agenda's are at play?”
by lanternhead
Friday, February 03 2012, 5:25PM
“yes, the very same mark simms, unfortunately but fortunately not conected with the club in any way,the club has enough problems without adding to them.”
by ValiantFosse
Friday, February 03 2012, 5:08PM
“Laythe Vale, What has M Sims got to do with the Interim Board?”
by kjhgfd
Friday, February 03 2012, 5:07PM
“mark simms didnt build up the company his dad clive simms built up the company,,has has now fled to spain to live and avoid taxes”
by laythevale
Friday, February 03 2012, 4:29PM
“Came across this quote from one of the protesters,
"Mark Simms built up the BGC business from scratch. He has been a Vale for since the age of 5 when he stodd on the old terraces. He has since sold BGC to Environ Group for millions and is now their CEO! What an asset this man would be.How could he have been turned away by Bratt and co.?"
Then I found this today regarding the Environ Group.....
" 23 January 2012
The Board has today requested that the Company's shares be suspended from trading with immediate effect pending clarification of its financial position. Further announcements will be made in due course.
For further information, please contact:
Environ Group (Investments) plc
Mark Sims - Chief Executive Officer
Same Mark Simms??”
by dandruff1960
Friday, February 03 2012, 2:16PM
“The Old Rec : If they had say by buying shares the club would be their's by now. You could say that they can blame nobody but themselves that they have not.”
by lanternhead
Friday, February 03 2012, 2:15PM
“sounds about right, the arrogance of mike lloyd is appalling but not unexpected as it appears to come from a man under pressure, he must realise that in the eyes of shareholders and us supporters he and the rest of the board have committed unpardonable sins in regards to our beloved club and in response have put up the baracades and so it continues.”
by The Old Rec
Friday, February 03 2012, 1:30PM
“So, according to some on here, supporters views aren't important if they don't own shares. These are the Club's customers for God's sake! Many have already had their say by staying at home on match days because of the Board's failure even to keep Port Vale on an even keel let alone improve its prospects or the quality on show. Years of mismanagement, broken promises and double talk have taken their toll on shareholders and ordinary supporters alike.
I suppose that's something the past and present Boards should be proud of?
At least now the local MP knows how the rest of us feel.”
by tisdeano
Friday, February 03 2012, 1:29PM
“Laythevale and his drive for openess, I like it.
Lets start with real names, Im Anthony Graal.....lets see how this openess goes on”
by ValiantFosse
Friday, February 03 2012, 1:15PM
“Diasolo, It does not matter if the Interim Board have no shares, their purpose is to investigate the financial and contractual situation at the club, in the same way that an Administrator would. Of course the board to run the club should invest in the club, unlike half the current board.”