'Let the next chapter for Atherstone Town CFC begin with a clear line drawn on a season like no other'

INTERIM CHAIRMAN NICK CORBETT ON A 'VERY POSITIVE AND EXCITED' FUTURE AT SHEEPY ROAD

INTERIM Atherstone Town overlord Nick Corbett has drawn a line on a "season like no other" with a ringing endorsement of past club chairmen for saving the famous non-league club from being forced to close its gates forever.

The new leader of the Sheepy Road club plans to "move forward" from events of the past 12 months with an acceptance that coronavirus has turned the future into a waiting game.

Mr Corbett insists the "next chapter" awaiting the Adders will be approached in a "very positive and excited" way.

The former vice-chairman, who has stepped into the breach left by Brian Henney, says the scheduled May 17 annual meeting will not go ahead until the country is out of lockdown.

A date will be announced in due course, and dependant on social distancing measures in place at the time.

In a club statement, he said: "The 2019/20 season on a global scale has been like no other and never will there possibly be another like it in our lifetimes .

"Not just from our club's prospective but from the whole football world in general.

"We as a club have not experienced a season like it with massive highs in terms of success and some uncertainty at times due to various circumstances.

"This season will go down in history for many reasons. Some good some not so good."

And while not referencing the incidents surrounding three games earlier this year, culminating in the away trip to Stafford where the match was held up on several occasions over alleged racial abuse, Mr Corbett said police enquiries had "amounted to no further action being taken".

As a result, he added: "The club would now like to draw a line under this and move forward.

"We had a couple of very important high-profile games with crowds that far exceeded our expectations in terms of attendance figures.

"The club learns from this all the time, and we are better equipped to deal with high capacity crowds going forward."

ATCFC is preparing for the 2020/21 season that has no official start date but he points to the ground receiving general basic maintenance and upkeep and the team and new coaching staff "in good spirits and looking forward to getting back to business".

He added: "There will be lots going on behind the scenes that will prevail as next season is underway.

"My focus and that of the committee from this point forward is to start planning and preparing for the future, so we can secure football being played at Sheepy Road for generations to come.

"On that note I'd like to thank the previous chairmen from the last few seasons, as without them and what they have done for the club I think the gates would have been closed a long time ago .

"It's now time for the next chapter to begin. We are all very positive and excited about the future and looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible attending games both home and away next season."

In mid-March Nub News revealed Adders overlord Henney was quitting his position as effective boss of club and playing staff. He was fearful that without anyone stepping into his vacating role, or filling four of the five committee posts at the annual meeting, there might not be a club going forward whenever the new season restarts.

Last month the chairman handed over his shares to the vice-chairman who will retain as trustee the community majority shareholding of 51 per cent in ATCFC Management Co Ltd, which is the sole legal entity, and the tenant without lease at the Sheepy Road ground. Mr Corbett will also hold an additional 24 per cent, leaving a 25 per cent holding for former club secretary Dave Turner.

Mr Henney left the club a week earlier than planned, citing "too much going on" in his business life, and adding that had the racism abuse allegations issue not cast a cloud across the whole season's achievements, it "might have been a different ending" to his departure.

Meanwhile, Adders fan Lewis Farmer is the new ATCFC 'video creator' for the coming season.

Mr Farmer will video all Adders games and put together a highlights package for his EverythingAdders Youtube channel.