Latest news with #PaulBarthorpe
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
England's biggest crisis club relegated THREE divisions after being left with no pitch and playing 70 miles away
NO senior football club in England has gone from nightmare to nightmare like debt-riddled Farsley Celtic. But it's somehow got worse - AFTER the season finished. 2 2 Fans blasted an "absolutely crazy" situation as Celtic have been relegated THREE DIVISIONS. Crisis upon crisis has descended upon the semi-professional Yorkshire club following a failed decision to put in an artificial pitch at their Throstle Nest ground last year. It never got built - so Celtic played most of their 2024-25 'home' games 70 miles away in Buxton, Derbyshire. They famously lost ex-Leeds star Neil Redfearn as manager in February after just three weeks in charge. Controversial chairman Paul Barthorpe then departed - with Celtic forced to field youngsters on the way to finishing bottom of the National League North. But instead of dropping into the Northern Premier League, they have been booted all the way down to the ninth tier - the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. Low points of the season included a 6-1 defeat to then-bottom Needham Market - when Redfearn was absent without explanation. Women's team manager Izzy Roads and youth coach Phil Lake took the reins, with Redfearn later revealing he had resigned days earlier. Under-fire Barthorpe soon quit too after six years steering a club that had went bust in 2010 but reformed in 2015. Now homeless Celtic have been denied a licence to play in Steps 1-4 - the four highest levels below the EFL. The club said: "As a board we recognise this will be as disappointing for our fans as it is for us. It's not what we wanted. "But sometimes you need to take a step backwards in order to move forwards, and pragmatically we believe this move to be necessary to protect the long-term financial future of our club." One fan responded: "It's absolutely crazy that Farsley Celtic has dropped three divisions to now the 9th tier of the English football pyramid. "It's an absolute joke, should never have got this far out of hand." Another wrote: "Triple relegation to Step 5... what a mess!" However, a third supporter took a longer-term view. He posted: "Like any fan I want to get back up ASAP but we need time to stabilise behind the scenes and then get back up where we belong. "I'd say 2-3 seasons hopefully then we go back up with a sustainable model." Celtic issued a lengthy statement on being booted down the leagues - insisting a groundsharing deal has already nearly been sorted for next term as they rebuild gradually. They said: "At the end of the last season we said our efforts would be concentrated around ensuring the financial stability of the club. "A season playing all our games away from The Citadel was always going to leave us with a financially challenging summer. "The debts facing the club have continued to mount in recent weeks. "We are in a situation where we have to be pragmatic. NCEL offers us significantly lower travelling costs and running costs in general as we seek to stabilise the club." Celtic are finally hoping to get a new surface so they can return home. Their statement added: "Our funding bid for a new pitch will be decided by the Football Foundation next month. "Our planning application for new energy efficient and reliable floodlights is being considered by the council and is subject to a funding bid. "A ground share for the start of next season is almost agreed, and we are still working on securing a lease for the ground. "While we could have appealed against this decision, the long-term future of the club remains our priority and a lot of work is being put in by the board and others to ensure Farsley continues to have a semi professional football club. "The long-term future of our first team, Deaf, Junior and Women's sides continues to be our priority."
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
England's biggest crisis club relegated THREE divisions after being left with no pitch and playing 70 miles away
NO senior football club in England has gone from nightmare to nightmare like debt-riddled Farsley Celtic. But it's somehow got worse - AFTER the season finished. 2 Farsley Celtic hope to set up a new groundshare for next season Credit: Rex 2 Celtic were not able to use their ground this season Credit: Rex Fans blasted an "absolutely crazy" situation as Celtic have been relegated THREE DIVISIONS. Crisis upon crisis has descended upon the semi-professional Yorkshire club following a failed decision to put in an artificial pitch at their Throstle Nest ground last year. It never got built - so Celtic played most of their 2024-25 'home' games 70 miles away in Buxton, Derbyshire. They famously READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS Controversial chairman Paul Barthorpe then departed - with Celtic forced to field youngsters on the way to finishing bottom of the National League North. But instead of dropping into the Northern Premier League, they have been booted all the way down to the ninth tier - the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. Low points of the season included a 6-1 defeat to then-bottom Needham Market - when Redfearn was absent without explanation. Women's team manager Izzy Roads and youth coach Phil Lake took the reins, with Redfearn later revealing he had resigned days earlier. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Under-fire Barthorpe soon quit too after six years steering a club that had went bust in 2010 but reformed in 2015. Now homeless Celtic have been denied a licence to play in Steps 1-4 - the four highest levels below the EFL. The club said: "As a board we recognise this will be as disappointing for our fans as it is for us. It's not what we wanted. "But sometimes you need to take a step backwards in order to move forwards, and pragmatically we believe this move to be necessary to protect the long-term financial future of our club." One fan responded: "It's absolutely crazy that Farsley Celtic has dropped three divisions to now the 9th tier of the English football pyramid. "It's an absolute joke, should never have got this far out of hand." Another wrote: "Triple relegation to Step 5... what a mess!" However, a third supporter took a longer-term view. He posted: "Like any fan I want to get back up ASAP but we need time to stabilise behind the scenes and then get back up where we belong. "I'd say 2-3 seasons hopefully then we go back up with a sustainable model." While we could have appealed against this decision, the long-term future of the club remains our priority Club statement Celtic issued a lengthy statement on being booted down the leagues - insisting a groundsharing deal has already nearly been sorted for next term as they rebuild gradually. They said: "At the end of the last season we said our efforts would be concentrated around ensuring the financial stability of the club. "A season playing all our games away from The Citadel was always going to leave us with a financially challenging summer. "The debts facing the club have continued to mount in recent weeks. "We are in a situation where we have to be pragmatic. NCEL offers us significantly lower travelling costs and running costs in general as we seek to stabilise the club." Celtic are finally hoping to get a new surface so they can return home. Their statement added: "Our funding bid for a new pitch will be decided by the Football Foundation next month. "Our planning application for new energy efficient and reliable floodlights is being considered by the council and is subject to a funding bid. "A ground share for the start of next season is almost agreed, and we are still working on securing a lease for the ground. "While we could have appealed against this decision, the long-term future of the club remains our priority and a lot of work is being put in by the board and others to ensure Farsley continues to have a semi professional football club. "The long-term future of our first team, Deaf, Junior and Women's sides continues to be our priority."
BBC News
17-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Farsley Celtic seeks help to survive until end of season
A football club has said it is "facing a battle to get through the rest of the season".Farsley Celtic, who play in the sixth tier of English football, has launched a campaign to raise £25, club's board said the funds would be used towards running costs until the end of the current season, and to help re-lay the pitch at its a statement, they said: "We've played the past 10 months without any home games due to delays on installing a new pitch. As a result we have had very little revenue, which has led to severe financial challenges." Last week the National League North side confirmed chairman Paul Barthorpe had stepped down, with directors Paul Glover, Josh Greaves, John Stubbs and Jon Wickham taking over the running of the Brighton, Fulham and Sheffield Wednesday goalkeeper David Stockdale was also confirmed as Farsley's new manager ahead of Saturday's 3-0 defeat at season the club has yet to play a fixture at its home ground, the Citadel, and currently occupies a relegation place after nine games without a installing a new 4G pitch have resulted in Leeds-based Farsley playing home fixtures almost 70 miles away in Buxton, board said the club's financial challenges "leaves us facing a battle to get through the rest of the season"."We need help with our running costs to help get us through the season and ensure a bright future for Farsley Celtic," the statement of Monday morning more than £1,300 had been raised to help the club."We're confident we can get there if we all – supporters, the wider community and local businesses – come together to make it happen," the club "long-term goal" was still to lay a 4G pitch, but in the short term "the board's aim is to get a playable pitch down as soon as possible to get football back at The Citadel and ensure the club's immediate future".Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Football club chairman resigns after death threats
A football club chairman has announced his intention to resign after "months of criticism and negativity" directed towards him, including death threats. Farsley Celtic chairman Paul Barthorpe released a statement on Tuesday evening in which he said the abuse had had a "significant impact" on his health. The managerless National League North outfit have been playing their home games almost 70 miles away from Leeds in Buxton, Derbyshire due to delays in installing a new 4G pitch at their stadium. "Having put in so much hard work and money over the last six years for it to be like this really hurts," said Mr Barthorpe. The statement continued: "I hope this act means there will be more support and more positivity towards the club and the board, as they are all like me volunteers, all good guys and all have the club at heart, and we are all desperate for this to work out." Mr Barthorpe, who has been heavily criticised amid the club's plight on and off the pitch, said there had been a "social media campaign" against him which had included death threats, assaults and criminal damage to his property. In the statement, he also claimed he had been "predominantly" funding sixth-tier Farsley for the last five years. Former Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn was appointed as Farsley boss on 17 January, but told the BBC he left the club on 6 February after just 20 days in charge. This season the club has yet to play a fixture at its home ground, the Citadel. Home games are currently being played in Buxton, which Farsley said was the "only option" after its previous groundshare at Bradford Park Avenue came to an end. Its return to the Citadel has been pushed back on numerous occasions due to delays in resurfacing the pitch, which the club previously said were "unforeseen and unavoidable". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Fan group's fears for football club's future
BBC News
12-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Farsley Celtic chairman resigns after abuse from supporters
A football club chairman has announced his intention to resign after "months of criticism and negativity" directed towards him, including death Celtic chairman Paul Barthorpe released a statement on Tuesday evening in which he said the abuse had had a "significant impact" on his managerless National League North outfit have been playing their home games almost 70 miles away from Leeds in Buxton, Derbyshire due to delays in installing a new 4G pitch at their stadium."Having put in so much hard work and money over the last six years for it to be like this really hurts," said Mr Barthorpe. The statement continued: "I hope this act means there will be more support and more positivity towards the club and the board, as they are all like me volunteers, all good guys and all have the club at heart, and we are all desperate for this to work out."Mr Barthorpe, who has been heavily criticised amid the club's plight on and off the pitch, said there had been a "social media campaign" against him which had included death threats, assaults and criminal damage to his the statement, he also claimed he had been "predominantly" funding sixth-tier Farsley for the last five Leeds United manager Neil Redfearn was appointed as Farsley boss on 17 January, but told the BBC he left the club on 6 February after just 20 days in season the club has yet to play a fixture at its home ground, the games are currently being played in Buxton, which Farsley said was the "only option" after its previous groundshare at Bradford Park Avenue came to an return to the Citadel has been pushed back on numerous occasions due to delays in resurfacing the pitch, which the club previously said were "unforeseen and unavoidable".Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
