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SUPPORTER'S CALLS ON HAMLET FUTURE

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27 March 2008

By Jon Surtees 

The Dulwich Hamlet Supporters' Trust has called for an urgent meeting with boss Nick McCormack, as uncertainty surrounds the future of the historic club.

The DHST, an organised group of fans who have been fundraising since 2003, currently have around £11,000 they want to invest in the club. However, they are unwilling to invest this cash without securing a stake in the running of the club - such as a shareholding.

Following the 'News' reports last week that club owner Nick McCormack is seeking new investors to come in and run the club - coupled with a vow that the DHST will "never" be allowed to buy the shares they want - trust chairman Eddie Muraszko has called for Mr. McCormack to sit down with the fans as early as possible.

Speaking to the 'News' this week, Mr. Muraszko initially spoke of his surprise at the announcement, saying: "I think this has taken fans of both Dulwich Hamlet and Fisher by surprise. The situation had appeared relatively stable; the owners of the clubs had provided some much needed and welcome investment in the facilities at Champion Hill and both clubs are still in with a shout for play-off places in their respective divisions. However, following the owners' comments last week, the future for both clubs appears less certain."

He continued to outline the aims of the DHST, adding: "DHST has always made clear it is not trying to take over the club. Our aim has been to make the club more open, accountable and responsive to supporters and the wider community - in return for which DHST would work in partnership to invest its money in the club, thereby furthering our mutual aims of a successful, growing club with a secure future in SE22.

"We have not been prepared to simply hand over the money at the club's request, without securing shares or possibly some other form of meaningful influence in return - a position overwhelmingly endorsed last year by the members of the 100 club, who have raised the money, and one that we feel has been vindicated by this recent news.

"Supporters at Dulwich are keen to better understand what the current position is and what the future holds. There are several key issues which are currently unclear, for example the share ownership of the club, what will happen when the ground lease expires in just three years’ time, the terms of the ground-share with Fisher, and the relationship to the Health Club. Until these are better understood and the exact nature of Nick McCormack's offer has been explained, it is difficult to react sensibly.

"We await a response and will aim to keep supporters informed. In the meantime, I would urge all concerned supporters, whatever their views on the matter, to join the DHST, so that the organisation accurately reflects the views of the fans as the situation unfolds. Ideally we would like to have a better idea of the club's plans and any possible options for our involvement by the time of our AGM in June, which we can then discuss.

“We need as much active participation as possible from supporters as we head towards potentially difficult times for this historic club, about which everyone connected with Dulwich cares so passionately."

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