Latest news with #RajSingh
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Former Carlisle United duo released by National League rivals
Former Carlisle United defender Jack Robinson's short spell at Hartlepool United is over - and fellow ex-Blue Gary Madine has also been released. The duo are among nine players let go by the National League club at the end of their contracts. For Robinson it is a quick departure from Victoria Park with the 23-year-old having made just three appearances. He left Carlisle for Pools on February's transfer deadline day but is now looking for a new club. In the case of Madine, the experienced frontman leaves the Monkey Hangers after 30 appearances and eight goals. The 34-year-old had been on Pools' books since last August, making his return to action after recovering from an ACL injury suffered with previous club Blackpool. Hartlepool's decisions come at the end of an 11th-placed finish in the fifth tier, and amid uncertainty over the club's future. The north east club had been in takeover talks but announced on Wednesday that a "potential takeover party" had missed a "further revised deadline" to deposit funds. The decisions come at a time of uncertainty over Pools' future (Image: PA) Hartlepool said that, as a result, there is no prospect of an "immediate takeover" and that, following a survey of season ticket holders, current owner Raj Singh will "step in to support the club... with the aim that Hartlepool United remains stable and competitive", ahead of any future takeover interest. Robinson's time at Carlisle began with a loan spell from Middlesbrough in the 2022/23 season before he joined on a permanent two-year deal. The left-sided player made 41 appearances for the Cumbrians. Madine came through United's youth team and made 85 first-team appearances and scored 22 goals before being sold to Sheffield Wednesday in 2011. He later returned on loan in 2014 and scored twice in five appearances. His other clubs include Cardiff City, Bolton Wanderers, Coventry City and Sheffield United. Other players released by Hartlepool this summer include Max Storey, Joel Dixon, Emmanuel Onariase, Luke Waterfall, Anthony Mancini, Kieran Wallace and Gregg Sloggett. Those remaining under contract at Victoria Park include the former Blues duo Tom Parkes and Adam Campbell. The club's first team coach is the former Carlisle No2 Gavin Skelton. FLASH SALE: Get unlimited access to every Carlisle United article by subscribing to the News & Star for £3 for 3 months, or get 40% off a full year's subscription - click
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Jeff Stelling quits football role as broadcasting legend releases furious statement on social media after being left in an 'intolerable' position
Broadcaster Jeff Stelling has resigned as honorary president of Vanarama National League side Hartlepool in protest at owner Raj Singh's handling of negotiations to sell the club. Pools issued a lengthy statement on Wednesday evening in which they said an agreement with one potential buyer had been reached in March, but that proof of funds for next season is yet to be deposited and revealing a plan to poll season-ticket holders over whether or not Singh should resume control. The move came after local businesswoman Shelley Hammond, who has been linked with a takeover, suggested that a deal was close following an earlier update, and it proved the final straw for minority shareholder and high-profile fan Stelling. He said in a series of posts on his X account: 'Following Raj's latest statement, I have resigned as president of @Official-HUFC. 'I know this is only an honorary role, but it is the best way I felt I could protest against the treatment of the party trying to take control the club. 'Supporters have been left in an intolerable position with a perceived threat to the future of the club should they not support the current owner. The popular broadcaster released a furious statement on social media explaining his decision 'Let's remember it was him who wanted to stop funding the club. Yet now he seems almost affronted that others want to take over. 'Not once have I been consulted about this even though I am a shareholder. I have not met the would-be buyers, but I do know they have been trying to buy this club for over a year - not the actions of time-wasters. 'I will always love this club and wish all our fans the best.' Singh initially put the club up for sale in the wake of relegation from the Football League at the end of the 2022-23 season and stood down as chairman in March amid fan protests as Pools limped towards an 11th-placed fifth-tier finish.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Jeff Stelling resigns as Hartlepool president after 9 years with damning statement over takeover
Jeff Stelling, Raj Singh/ Image composite: Sky Sports/X Hartlepool United FC Sky Sports legend Jeff Stelling has announced his resignation as honorary president of Hartlepool United, citing deep frustration with the club's stalled takeover process and what he called the mistreatment of prospective buyers. The 70-year-old broadcaster and lifelong Pools supporter had held the honorary role for nearly a decade. But in a powerful statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), Stelling made it clear that recent developments involving club owner Raj Singh had pushed him to step away. 'Following Raj's latest statement, I have resigned as President of @Official_HUFC,' Stelling wrote. 'I know this is only an honorary role but it is the best way I felt I could protest against the treatment of the party trying to take control of the club. Supporters have been left in an intolerable position with a perceived threat to the future of the club should they not support the current owner.' — JeffStelling (@JeffStelling) 'Let's remember it was him who wanted to stop funding the club. Yet now he seems almost affronted that others want to take over.' 'Not once have I been consulted about this even though I am a shareholder. I have not met the would-be buyers but I do know they have been trying to buy this club for over a year – not the actions of time wasters.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bangladesh: Unsold Sofas at Bargain Prices (View Current Prices) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo 'I will always love this club and wish all our fans the best.' Ownership uncertainty puts club planning at risk Hartlepool United, currently in England's fifth tier, were relegated from League Two in 2023. Since then, they have finished 12th and 11th in the National League, including this season's 11th-place finish with 60 points from 46 games. Owner Raj Singh, who bought the club in 2018, put it up for sale in April 2023 and stepped down as chairman in March 2025 after receiving abuse from sections of the fanbase. At the time, he said he would continue funding staff and player wages until the end of the 2024–25 campaign. However, the club confirmed in a statement this week that planning for the upcoming season is already behind, and a proposed takeover remains unresolved. 'The club is already running the risk of failing to prepare for next season, which could become unrecoverable in a very short period of time,' the statement read. 'The retained player list must be decided upon by Saturday, and squad planning is well behind where it should be due to the current limbo position.' 'Much of the good work that has been done over recent years to put the club on a stable footing hangs in the balance. In summary, the board feel that the club can wait no longer and must act now.' Deal deadlines missed, no funds deposited The club revealed that a prospective buyer, whose offer was accepted by Singh in mid-March, has failed to meet deadlines to deposit funds. 'This party had their original proposal and offer accepted by Mr Singh in the second week of March but have since missed deadlines to deposit agreed funds,' Hartlepool stated. 'They identified a target exchange date in April, which was missed, and a second target date in May which is now unrealistic. Still at this stage, no party has deposited the required proof of funds to a level to operate the club next season.' This situation has left Hartlepool's board, players, and fans in a state of uncertainty, with little clarity on the club's immediate or long-term future. Singh speaks out: 'This was not planned' Responding to growing criticism, including Stelling's resignation, Raj Singh issued a statement denying that the current impasse was deliberate or engineered. 'I feel I must make my position clear that this was not planned, as some people will now regrettably insinuate,' Singh said. 'I have not attended any games since I stepped down, and I was getting used to life after HUFC. If a new owner had been in the position to progress with funds in place, we would not be in this position — so it could not possibly have been planned on my part.' Singh acknowledged that several individuals have asked him to return in some capacity to help keep the club afloat, but he said he would only do so if the fans approved. 'Categorically, at this time, there is no party in a position with funds to immediately take over the club,' Singh said. 'That is not for a lack of trying, and there has been a huge amount of work going on behind the scenes that people just don't see.' Supporters to decide Singh's short-term role With no confirmed buyer in place and no proof of operating funds from any party, Singh has proposed a rare measure, asking season ticket holders to vote on whether the club should accept further financial assistance from him, despite his prior resignation. 'Mr Singh has made no formal commitment to step in as chairman or principal funder,' the club explained. 'He highlighted that he could do so only if supporters want him to assist, and he was very mindful of prior supporter requests for him to step down. He has suggested this should be a decision for supporters and not the board.' The board added that without 'external funding support and a more stable environment,' both on-field and off-field planning are at risk, a situation that could 'ultimately threaten the club's very existence.' 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Daily Mail
22-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Jeff Stelling quits football role as broadcasting legend releases furious statement on social media
Broadcaster Jeff Stelling has resigned as honorary president of Vanarama National League side Hartlepool in protest at owner Raj Singh's handling of negotiations to sell the club. Pools issued a lengthy statement on Wednesday evening in which they said an agreement with one potential buyer had been reached in March, but that proof of funds for next season is yet to be deposited and revealing a plan to poll season-ticket holders over whether or not Singh should resume control. The move came after local businesswoman Shelley Hammond, who has been linked with a takeover, suggested that a deal was close following an earlier update, and it proved the final straw for minority shareholder and high-profile fan Stelling. He said in a series of posts on his X account: 'Following Raj's latest statement, I have resigned as president of @Official-HUFC. 'I know this is only an honorary role, but it is the best way I felt I could protest against the treatment of the party trying to take control the club. 'Supporters have been left in an intolerable position with a perceived threat to the future of the club should they not support the current owner. 'Let's remember it was him who wanted to stop funding the club. Yet now he seems almost affronted that others want to take over. 'Not once have I been consulted about this even though I am a shareholder. I have not met the would-be buyers, but I do know they have been trying to buy this club for over a year - not the actions of time-wasters. 'I will always love this club and wish all our fans the best.' Singh initially put the club up for sale in the wake of relegation from the Football League at the end of the 2022-23 season and stood down as chairman in March amid fan protests as Pools limped towards an 11th-placed fifth-tier finish.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pools fans to vote on funds plea to estranged owner
Hartlepool United board members have asked owner Raj Singh to commit to further funding, with a takeover of the National League club still in "limbo". Singh put the club up for sale in April 2023 following their relegation from the English Football League and resigned from his role as the club's chairman in March this year, stating his decision came amid abuse from a section of the club's fan base. The club previously said it would not be sold before the end of the 2024-25 season as Singh promised to fund player and staff wages until the campaign concluded. However, in a statement on Wednesday, Hartlepool stated they are currently behind with critical planning for next season as a potential takeover drags on. A statement added that the club would be asking season ticket holders to vote on if they would like Pools to take assistance from Singh going forward - a vote suggested by the owner himself. "Mr Singh has made no formal commitment to step in as chairman or principal funder," the statement said. "He highlighted that he could do so only if supporters want him to assist, and he was very mindful of prior supporter requests for him to step down. He has suggested this should be a decision for supporters and not the board." Hartlepool recorded an 11th place finish in the National League this campaign, in their second season since relegation from the EFL. "Without external funding support and a more stable environment to work under, the club will inevitably fall yet further behind with both on-field and off-field planning, which could ultimately threaten its very existence," the statement added. "The club is already running the risk of failing to prepare for next season which could become unrecoverable in a very short period of time. The club's retained player list must be decided upon by Saturday and squad planning is well behind where it should be due to the current limbo position. "Much of the good work that has been done over recent years to put the club on a stable footing hangs in the balance. In summary the board feel that the club can wait no longer and must act now." Hartlepool also revealed that a further revised deadline had been missed by a potential takeover party. "This party had their original proposal and offer accepted by Mr Singh in the second week of March but have since missed deadlines to deposit agreed funds," the club said. "In the party's original offer they identified a target exchange date in April which was missed and subsequently a second target exchange date in May which is now unrealistic given the inability to deposit funds. "Like with most National League takeover propositions, a prominent consideration and due diligence item for any prospective owner is the level of funding required to sustain and progress the club next season, and indeed year on year beyond that. "Still at this stage no party has deposited the required proof of funds to a level to operate the club next season."
