TNS owner invites councillors to see documents at centre of grant row
The owner of an Oswestry-based football club has invited all Shropshire councillors to see the 'facts' behind a grant funding row.
The New Saints FC is embroiled in a row with Shropshire Council over an £80,000 grant that was awarded to the football club.
Shropshire Council is taking legal action to recover the money, of which £10,000 was paid back by the football.
Club owner Mike Harris believes there are councillors who are in possession of all the facts, but has invited any who want to see the documentation and the grant agreement to contact him.
He said: "Fortunately, I have full and detailed documentation including the grant funding agreement and would like to make an open offer to view this to all councillors that wish to gain a better understanding of the current situation.
"By prior arrangement, I will be happy to provide councillors with free and open access to all paperwork, including the grant funding agreement, at my Oswestry-based offices.
"This will enable them to make up their own minds regarding a situation that is destined for costly legal action in the courts.
"I would assume that if councillors do not wish to take up this offer, they are in full support of the council’s position and will be judged by the electorate next time they go to the polls."
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Mr Harris believes the council should not be wasting tax payers money with a legal case, and has welcomed calls for an independent review into the facts.
He also praised one of his staff, Matt Lee, who was a Conservative councillor but has now stepped away from the party due to the ongoing saga.
He added: "He has taken a stand against the way that Shropshire Council has engaged in what appears to be a witch-hunt against The New Saints FC and myself over the grant received as part of the Market Towns Revitalisation Programme (MTRP).
"The people of the Llanymynech ward can be proud of Councillor Lee’s exemplary response to this situation.
"It is an approach that other councillors might follow, particularly those that are aware of the facts relating to the actual Grant Funding Agreement that was signed by the council.
"It's time for the other conservative councillors as they are the ones who control the council and paid handsomely by tax payers to exercise their integrity to bring this matter to a close."
