When FC were in the Conference at the same time as LUFC found themselves in the 3rd tier for the first time, there were mutterings that FC should rebrand themselves as "AFC Leeds" and try to become a 2nd Leeds league team. With the 15 point deduction, it seemed possible that the teams could be playing each other within a year. Thank God that didn't happen - it would have been the end of any prospect of LUFC getting back to their rightful position. Leeds would have become like Sheffield - a football graveyard with 2 mediocre teams battling it out for the occasional season in the top flight. If FC had remained what they had been for 98 years - a decent village team- they would still have a reasonable future.
Farsley Celtic FC on the brink of extinction?
Could Leeds's second football team Farsley Celtic be on the brink of closure? http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/football-headlines/Celtic-are-on-the-brink.5407342.jp
How are the other minor league teams around Leeds of Guiseley AFC and Garforth Town AFC performing in terms of financial stability and on the pitch?
Would Farsley Celtic presumably get points deducted as they go into administration? It would be very bad news to see them disappear especially as they only played in the Conference National a few years back although do they have much of a support base (presumably LUFC supporters who watch Farsley Celtic at Throstle Nest as opposed to watch LUFC away) and how come has there been no progress on Farsley selling that land for residential development which could have helped secure the long term status of FCFC?Celtic are on the brink
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Fearing closure: Farsley Celtic
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryADVERTISEMENTPublished Date: 27 June 2009
By Wendy Walker
EXCLUSIVE
JUST two years after living the dream of Conference football, Farsley Celtic are facing extinction.
The west Leeds club face a winding up order in the High Court in London on Wednesday – over a £200,000 tax bill – and unless a new investor comes forward within the next 72 hours say there is "very real possibility" Celtic will go to the wall.
In a last-ditch bid to stave off the petition being brought by the Inland Revenue, Celtic's board has agreed to put the club into administration but claim the taxman has refused a request to adjourn Wednesday's hearing pending the formal appointment of an administrator.
Commercial director Paul Grayson, who revealed the club survived a separate winding up order in March, said: "At this moment in time it's looking bleak.
"If people want a club in west Leeds – in the second tier of non-league football – now is the time to step in.
"Without outside help I would say things are 30/70 against us surviving and even that's being optimistic.
"If nobody comes forward in the next three days and the judge won't allow us to put the club into administration, then there will be no Farsley Celtic on Wednesday. The padlocks will be on the gates."
The extent of Celtic's problems became clear in January when president John Palmer, in an exclusive interview, told the YEP the club had "overstretched chasing the dream".
Three promotions in four seasons – culminating in a glorious night in May 2007 when Farsley beat Hinckley United 4-3 in the Conference North play-off final – ensured Celtic would spend their Centenary season as a Conference club for the first time in their history.
But Palmer admitted Celtic – who were relegated after just one season in the Football League's feeder division – had been banking on a multi-million pound deal to sell off part of their land at Throstle Nest for housing.
When Leeds City Council thwarted those plans in March 2008, Farsley discovered the success was built on shaky foundations. The credit crunch arrived, and the land was worth a fraction of the price.
Nevertheless, Palmer insisted in January: "There is no chance whatsoever of this club going out of business. It's left us in a bit of a state but I do believe we can get out of it."
But in a statement released to the YEP last night, he confirmed the financial position had deteriorated.
Palmer said: "We have no choice but to consider administration. I have worked tirelessly to try and raise sufficient money to avoid the process, but the economic climate means that investors are tightening their belts.
"It is profoundly sad, because we sit on over six acres of land, we have a sports hall and I believe, with a bit of work, a club that the people of west Leeds would come out and support.
"Paul Grayson has had a number of discussions with HMRC, and Paul Truswell MP has done what he can but, unfortunately, the Revenue are reluctant to allow us time to pay.
"That is their prerogative, and it has perhaps not helped that in the past our payment record has not been the best.
"The board of directors resolved to enter administration at a meeting last week.
"We have held meetings with a couple of insolvency practitioners who are working up until Wednesday's deadline in the hope that the winding up hearing will be adjourned so as to give time to allow for the formalities associated with the appointment of an administrator."
Anyone interested in helping Farsley Celtic should contact the club.
How are the other minor league teams around Leeds of Guiseley AFC and Garforth Town AFC performing in terms of financial stability and on the pitch?
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Farsley Celtic have just gone into administration with only hours to spare before a winding up order was issued against the club. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co....ry-puts-Celtic-into-administration.5416463.jp
So would there be any serious interest out there to save Farsley Celtic considering they are such a small club with little support and it would be inevitably ironic if FCFC had folded and their entire ground was redeveloped for housing similar to the former Bramley RLFC McLaren Fields stadium when they went under in the 1990s. Could Farsley perhaps ground share at either Headingley, John Charles, Odsal, Valley Parade or even Elland Road perhaps as a way of saving their club? How much time will there be until if it is known that Farsley are no more?Brewery puts Celtic into administration
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John Palmer
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryADVERTISEMENTPublished Date: 01 July 2009
By Wendy Walker
Troubled Farsley Celtic avoided today's winding up order with just hours to spare after being put into administration yesterday evening.
Celtic were due to face a petition brought by the Inland Revenue – over a £200,000 tax bill – in the High Court in London, and feared with time against them it could spell the end for the Throstle Nest club.
Farsley's board of directors decided to enter administration last week but said in a statement on Friday they didn't have time to complete the formalities before today's court hearing.
However Coors Brewery, who are also creditors, have called the administrators in.
A new statement released last night read: "The board of Farsley Celtic 1908 Ltd are today able to confirm the appointment of Mazars as administrators.
"By entering administration, the petition to wind the club up is unable to proceed and enables the club to continue to trade."
Club president John Palmer added: "Paul Glover and I today met with the administrators after the appropriate papers were filed at court.
"Whilst it is a relief that the effect of administration avoids, in the short term, the threat of winding up, there is a lot of work still to do and we shall be working closely with them in the next few weeks."
Farsley got into financial difficulties following a meteoric rise to the football Conference for the first time in their history, courtesy of three promotions in four seasons.
The club had plans to sell off part of their land for housing to finance the dream, but Leeds City Council turned down a planning application for Bellway Homes to build 26 houses and 31 apartments on the site in March 2008 and the problems started to mount.
Meanwhile on the field, Farsley lasted just one season in non-league football's top-flight.
The players returned for the start of pre-season training last night ahead of their second term back in Blue Square North and now face starting the campaign with an automatic 10-point deduction.
But didn't (formerly for many years in the Football League) Halifax Town who also went bust got thrown out of the Conference (either the Conference National or the Conference North) and hence were wound up with a new club using the Halifax Town name playing all the way down in the Northern Premier League Division One North. This isn't some FA conspiracy against clubs from Yorkshire is it considering Scarborough FC had also wound up when they went under?
Still it would be very bad news if it was to be the end of Farsley Celtic. hno:Could Farsley Celtic be saved by having their debts cleared for a new housing development on unused land as a smaller scale scheme to that which was rejected by Leeds City Council last year? http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/New-housing-hope-for-underthreat.5429432.jp
It would be good if there could manage to clear their debts and effectively save their club although if they cannot get into any league then it would of course still have an obviously adverse affect for their club anyway (which I could guess would force the club to close down anyway). Have Leeds City Council said anything on the clubs plight? Surely the status of sports teams across Leeds even small outfits such as Farsley should be something to comment about i'd have thought and would this planning application by processed at the standard speed that planning applications are processed or would it be rushed through due to the special circumstances of the clubs future hinging on the possible sale of this land?New housing hope for under-threat Farsley
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An alternative housing scheme could throw Farsley Celtic a cash lifeline
Date:
04 July 2009
By Paul Robinson
EMBATTLED non-league football club Farsley Celtic have new hope in their fight to stave off financial disaster.
Farsley went into administration on Tuesday with debts of more than £200,000.
Their problems kicked in after a money-spinning scheme to build homes on land they own next to the main pitch at their Throstle Nest ground was scuppered by city councillors last year.
But now it has emerged that proposals have been drawn up for an alternative housing scheme that could throw the club a cash lifeline.
Farsley and Leeds-based developer Chartford Homes have submitted an application to the council for planning permission for 14 new houses at Throstle Nest.
They would be built on the club-owned former cricket pitch which lies behind the site's main stand.
Farsley officials say the money generated by the scheme would be enough to clear their debts.
Celtic spokesman Philip Morris said today: "If things go as we are hoping then our future should be a lot more secure."
One reason why Farsley believe their new plans could succeed where the old ones failed is the reduced number of properties involved.
Their original proposals – drawn up in conjunction with Newcastle-based Bellway Homes – made provision for 26 houses and 31 flats.
Councillors cited a number of concerns when they rejected the club's planning application in February last year, despite a recommendation from officers that it be approved.
They included the use of land designated as greenfield and an alleged under-provision of "affordable" housing.
The Chartford scheme includes plans for a new two-storey clubhouse at Throstle Nest as well as extra playing pitches and car parking.
A spokeswoman for Leeds City Council said the planning application was due to be considered by the end of September.
Its fate isn't the only issue concerning Farsley at the moment, however.
As revealed in yesterday's YEP, the Conference league has told Celtic they cannot take their place in its North division next season because of their cash flow woes.
Farsley are planning an appeal to the Football Association against the decision.
The club has set up a fighting fund – tagged '101, Still Going Strong' in reference to their age – to raise money to pay for the appeal.
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