Burgess Hill Town chairman 'disappointed' with council's 'disingenuous' response

Burgess Hill Town chairman Kevin Newell has been left 'disappointed' by Mid Sussex District Council's response after he said it was time for the fans and town to stand up for the club.
The Green Elephants StadiumThe Green Elephants Stadium
The Green Elephants Stadium

On Wednesday, Newell released statement to say the council had refused them a rent freeze during the coronavirus lockdown.

But the council responded to say the club had been given a £10,000 government grant that should be used to help with costs.

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But Newell was bit happy with the response and called it 'disingenuous'.

In a statement on the club's website, he said: "First, may I say a huge thank you to all of our supporters who backed our campaign to encourage Mid Sussex District Council to allow our club a moratorium on rent payments whilst all football is suspended. Thank you also to Burgess Hill Town Council and the other Councillors who have expressed support for our request.

"However, I am very disappointed with the response from Mid Sussex District Council, which I feel is rather disingenuous. It also perhaps shows that the Council do not fully understand the nature of the clubs’ role in the community.

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"The response was put out over social media, without any attempt to speak to the club. What in fact MSDC sent to the club was an unsigned circular refusing to allow a rent holiday and referring to the available grant initiatives of which we were of course already aware.

"No mention is made of my letter to the council setting out the reasons for requesting suspension of the rent. I’ve had no answer to that letter, and no other contact from the Council, so where the idea that there would be ‘further discussions’ comes from is again rather misleading. I have tried to have a dialogue with the Council on several occasions over the past year, principally to do with the future of our ground, but MSDC have failed to answer any of my communications.

"Since I wrote this, I have heard from the Council suggesting a conversation. I will take up that offer straight away. I will keep you posted on what transpires."