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Neil Hart says Wanderers’ owners Football Ventures are committed to funding the club – whichever division they are playing in next season.
The chief executive addressed an audience of BWFC Supporters Trust members at the University of Bolton Stadium on Thursday night and was asked whether there was any question that the owners would continue their funding, or whether they were actively seeking outside investment.
Hart said fans should have “no fears” about the ownership structure and its stability.
“Football Ventures, the board and the investors are committed to the football club, there is no danger of that tap being switched off,” he said.
“I will make the point that, as a football club, we are moving forward from a commercial point of view. And that is easing the burden a little bit on the need for owner and shareholder investment.
“In terms of actively looking for outside investment at the moment, the answer is no, we are in good shape at the moment and working through to the end of the year.
“Promotion to the Championship might bring different challenges, if it happens, and we are starting to talk about that at the moment to establish what that looks like.
“But there should be no fears about the stability of our ownership group, the investors behind them and their commitment to this football club and ensuring it is run in a pragmatic and sustainable way.”
It was revealed in documents at Companies House recently that both Hart and first team manager Ian Evatt had been made minority shareholders in Football Ventures.
Neither shareholding qualifies them for voting rights but would, in the event of a club sale, give them a dividend.
“Being very frank with you, that was a very savvy move from Sharon and the board. Ian and I are young, ambitious and I’d say relatively talented individuals, we’ve both been involved in football all our lives, Ian on the football side and me on the business side, and I think we are becoming prized assets here,” Hart said.
“We are committed to what we are doing, we are enjoying it, and I think that is a sensible move from the board to make us partners in that way.
“It was a real privilege and honour – and I am sure Ian felt the same way – when Sharon approached with that offer.”
A government white paper on football governance is due out next week, with some of its details leaked in the national press yesterday, which include the introduction of tighter controls on football ownership, financial controls and a licensing system which would prevent the introduction of a breakaway European Super League.
There has also been a push for supporters to get a greater say in the running of football clubs – and Hart pointed out the successful relationship which has been garnered with the Supporters’ Trust as an example of how Wanderers are already meeting many of the requirements which are coming in.
He has also confirmed that discussion has taken place about a share issue for supporters, although no firm detail could yet be supplied.
“We have got a big piece of work going on down at Whitehall at the moment, Fair Game up and running, fan engagement, independent regulator – all this is swilling around in football club authorities and circles at the moment,” he said.
“We are committed to it all. If you look at the Fair Game index, if you read through Tracy Crouch’s report, we are already doing a lot of that. We are ahead of the curve and I think often we don’t get the plaudits as a football club that we quite rightly deserve, some of the things that I, Sharon, Ian, the board and the management team have put in place over the last two or three years.
“In terms of supporter involvement from a shareholder point of view – it is on the agenda in the boardroom. It is something we have discussed and we are looking at a number of opportunities about how we can move it forward.
“I can’t commit to anything but it is something we have discussed and there might be something around the corner that gives supporters an opportunity to get involved in that way.
“So, watch this space.”
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