NEWS EXTRA: Worrying times for Swindon Town fans
Relegation to League Two is playing-out amid the backdrop of a court case
Last updated 20th Apr 2021
During a week where the morality of football's top table has been called into question, Swindon Town find themselves in a downward spiral which has some fans questioning whether they will even have a team to support.
On the pitch, The Robins' League One future looks bleak - at best.
The Club have to win their remaining matches, and hope results elsewhere go in their favour, to retain League One status.
A loss against Portsmouth tonight (Tuesday 20 April), and wins for Wigan Athletic and AFC Wimbledon, will see The Robins relegated into the fourth tier of English football.
But many fans deem this secondary to Swindon Town's future viability, which looks in jeopardy as a court case unfolds on the issue.
It was revealed last week that the Club's bosses have blocked all communication with Swindon Town Supporters Trust, which has seen membership surge since that announcement:
'We have a willing buyer ready to take over Swindon Town'
We have spoken to Dan Hunt, a board member from the Swindon Town Supporters Trust. He explained why, in his view, the communication has ceased:
“I think the root of this goes back to our open letter which we released, asking all people involved in the ownership of Swindon Town to come forward, tell us about their vision for the Club, be open, engaging transparent to the supporters and try and deal with this crisis which the Club is facing".
In the most recent episode in court, Judge Nicholas Thompsell refused current Chairman Lee Power’s request to place Swindon Town into administration.
Dan Hunt agreed with that ruling.
“We don’t feel that is necessary," he told Greatest Hits Radio.
"We have a willing buyer ready and with the means to take over Swindon Town Football Club and actually make that a positive future ... with a community focus.
“There is another entity, an American firm called Able. But, much like the Football Club and much like Michael Standing, Able haven’t been forthcoming with engaging with us as a Supporters Trust".
According to the Swindon Town Supporters Trust, these are some of the key points from the latest court case:
• The Court has ordered that Mr Power is not allowed to place the Club into administration, as things stand.
• Mr Power is also not allowed to push a sale through to Able (AC Sports Wiltshire LLC), for the time being.
• Mr Power has until Friday 30 April to provide Mr Standing & Axis (Mr Clem Morfuni) with all information that had previously been provided to Able and the potential administrator.
• From this point, Axis will have some time to prepare their formal offer to purchase the Club, which they believe will be a better offer than that currently on the table by Able.
• It is the hope of Judge Thompsell that a formal offer from Axis can be presented in the early weeks of May.
• Mr Power had agreed to terms of a sale with Able, and it was claimed he is happy with the deal on the table.
• Mr Power has also stated through his legal team that he wasn’t happy with the details of the bid from Axis – he needs to make clear to Axis how he would like this offer to be improved.
• In the meantime, all parties are to agree on the financial figure required to keep the Club operating.
Greatest Hits Radio has contacted Swindon Town several times for a comment, but has yet to receive a response.