Will Brentford FC move to Kingston?

Bees owner Ron Noades moved quickly to dispel fears about the move, claiming that it would be a temporary measure while a new stadium is built in Hounslow Borough.

That would be dependent, however, on the Nationwide second division outfit being successful in their bid to sell off Griffin Park, where they have played for 100 years, for housing in a possible £12 million deal.

The cash-strapped Ks, who play at Kingsmeadow, Kingston, fear that a takeover would effectively spell the end for the club.

Mr Noades told the Times: My interest in Kingstonian would not threaten their existence and there is no reason they could not share their present ground with us during the short period our first team would be there.''

Nevertheless, Ks, who have been in administration for six months, claim it would cause their demise, and their angry fans are set to stage demonstrations.

Mr Noades' bid is also expected to bring protests from Kingston residents over the possibility of a ground -with a capacity of just over 6,000 - catering for the likelihood of First Division football next season.

At present, Griffin Park in Brentford can seat just over 12,000 people, although gates this season have been disappointingly low, at around half that figure.

Administrator Nick Hood from Begbie Traynor has received three offers to buy a controlling interest in the 117-year-old Kingstonian, which has twice won the FA Trophy at Wembley. The other two came from a businessman and a consortium of Ks supporters and some of the current directors.

Mr Hood turned down the bid from the consortium because it was the lowest of the three. But he said: I have not taken a final decision on the other bids yet because of a major tax issue to do with one of the offers, and I also need to get a view from the major creditors Barclays Bank.''

Malcolm Winwright, the leader of the fans' consortium, said: The offers from the businessman and ourselves would guarantee Ks' survival, but Brentford's bid would probably cause the club to go into liquidation.

Nick Hood informed us we needed to come up with an offer of £400,000 and we actually bid £402,000 - then he said he had received a bigger bid.

As I understand it, Mr Noades has not offered to buy Kingstonian FC, but simply seeks to obtain the assets which would give him the lease on the ground and the facilities, including the clubhouse.

In that case the only people likely to get any money would be the administrator and the main creditors, Barclays Bank, who have a charge against the ground because they are owed over £350,000 for the mortgage and overdraft. Kingstonian would be left with no ground and no money, and their only option would be to reform as a minor league team.

If Ks sell the lease they will have to pay capital gains tax of £660,000 and that will drive them into liquidation. Likewise, they will be put into liquidation if the creditors are not paid.''

Mr Hood confirmed: The only way Ks can stay in the Ryman League Premier Division is if the deal I accept provides sufficient sums to pay football creditors in full and satisfy other creditors with an offer of so much in the pound.''

Even if Ks are allowed to ground-share with Brentford their income would be slashed. Ks chairman Alan Kingston stressed: We rely on the revenue from facilities such as the function rooms and the bars to keep us going. We can't sustain a team on gate money alone. I am deeply concerned about the club's future.''

But Mr Noades said: We merely want to obtain Kingsmeadow with a view to playing there in the short term as an alternative home while looking for a new stadium site in Hounslow or an adjoining borough, subject to selling Griffin Park.

Our offer wouldn't pay off all the creditors - no offer would. But Ks could form a new company - surely they want to start off without any debts? I can't see why they can't continue at Kingsmeadow by ground-sharing with our first team or our reserves.

Hounslow Council have indicated that we will get planning consent to build homes at Griffin Park and, if it is granted, the ground could be worth £12 million to £19 million.''

There could still be a stumbling block, however. As Malcolm Winwright pointed out: I don't think Kingston Council would want to hand over the lease to a Football League club from outside the borough. Kingsmeadow may be a grade A' ground, but the capacity is only just over 6,000 whereas Brentford's gate for the win over Huddersfield last Saturday was more than 7,000.

Local residents would be up in arms - they raised objections when we improved the ground to bring it up to Football League standard last year at a cost of £900,000.

The irony is that when Kingston Council gave Kingstonian a 125-year lease at a peppercorn rent 12 years ago the club paid for new facilities, including the stand, athletics track and gym, which would now cost over £4 million to build.''

Mr Noades has already stated that Griffin Park is unable to support Brentford because it cannot be expanded to provide corporate entertainment boxes and other revenue options.

Earlier plans for Brentford to go to the site of Western International outdoor market or ground share with Woking both fell through. And Hounslow Council have been unable to come up with an alternative site so far.

If Brentford don't get planning consent they could themselves go into liquidation. The Bees, who have an overdraft of £4.5 million, are understood to be losing around £12,000 a week and Noades has only agreed to fund the club until May 31st.

Fans feel so strongly about the future of Brentford FC that they have formed a political party AbeeC' and have candidates standing in 14 of the wards at the Hounslow Council elections on May 2nd.

April 11, 2002 17:00