THERE are no question marks over Altrincham FC's future: the club will survive.

That's the message from majority shareholder Gerry Berman, who confirmed this week that day to day costs are being met, despite there being no board of directors, chairman, assistant coach or commercial manager at Moss Lane.

Berman and the major shareholders, Len Rosenfield, Noel White, Graham Heathcote and

former manager John King, were effectively put in charge of the club when the board of directors walked out on Friday.

Speaking to SAM Sport earlier this week, Berman said, "There is no question about it Altrincham will survive."

Berman also stands by his earlier statement that the major shareholders in the club were only made aware of the financial situation at the Annual General Meeting of May 13.

When asked about the make-up of the next board of directors, Berman said, "Independent board members will be appointed - to my knowledge, none of the major shareholders want to be directors."

• SAM Sport has learned . that the most pressing debt at the club - the £43,000 owed to the Inland Revenue - is being dealt with.

Whether it has been paid or an agreement has been made between the club and the inland revenue is unclear, however.

• Goalkeeper Stuart Coburn has left Altrincham, and signed for conference club Leigh RMI on a two-year contract.

More on board resignation 

ALTY BOARD RESIGNS

Statement from :Bob Green, Bob Peters, David Tracey, Jeremy Pollitt, Kevan Guiney.

AILING Altrincham have been hit with a five-figure tax bill which has again left them pleading for help from shareholders and supporters.

The hard-up Robins board have confirmed they've just received the final demand to pay off Inland Revenue debts of £43,000 - backed up by the taxman's threat to serve the club with a winding-up order unless they cough up quickly.

That has prompted directors to renew calls first made in March to fans to assist efforts to avert yet another cash crisis by supporting a series of fund-raising measures which they've put into force in recent weeks.

Director Dave Tracey said: "It's with regret that we've made this announcement, but the sad fact is that although we're working tirelessly to rectify the situation and have appreciated the contributions

that have already been made, the total input from supporters and shareholders falls far short of our requirements.

"As we pointed out at our recent open meeting, now is the time for all of us to pull together to ensure the club's survival.

"The board will take whatever action is necessary to help safeguard the club but, as a final rallying call to our fans, we're asking them all to support the fund-raising initiatives we've put into place and to donate as much money as possible.

"The club's condition is not critical, but it is serious and we are most certainly not crying wolf. Without the help of our supporters, we're afraid the future looks bleak."

Ironically, this latest threat to the club's future comes at a time when they are preparing to celebrate their centenary season.

And two of the board's cash-generating schemes are centred around that 100th anniversary milestone - a centenary dinner, planned for early next year and the issuing of a limited edition commemorative badge.

Directors have also announced they've pegged season-ticket prices and are urging fans to buy theirs quickly

All those purchasing an adult ticket will be able to buy an accompanying child's for a termer and have another junior ticket free of charge.

Meanwhile, Robins boss Bernard Taylor, who's also feeling the pinch, is desperately fighting to hold on to a string of star players whose contracts are up this summer.

He fears goalkeeper Stuart Coburn, a real hero of the Moss Lane faithful, could be on his way to Chester.

And, with money tight, Taylor recognises he could also be about to lose skipper, Steve Hawes and the club's two most experienced players, former Bury star Kevin Hulme and Mark Sertori. Taylor appears more hopeful, however, of reaching agreement with Danny Murphy and Neil Ryan, while Mark Maddox and Gary Scott have already told him they're staying.

They'll join Rod Thornley Ian Craney and Jason Gallagher, who are all contracted for another season. As a further boost to Taylor, teenagers Mario Daniel and Vernum Rowland have done well in recent games after being called up from the reserves and are likely, he says, to remain in the first-team picture next term.

Altrincham's closing fixture against 'Vauxhall Motors on Friday was tinged with sadness as it was both stalwart Graham Heathcote's last game as coach and also marked the end of Mark Harris's time as a director and, latterly, chairman. A successor has yet to be named.

Taylor remains in no hurry to appoint a new coach, although the Sunday Pink understands an ex-pro well known in Manchester could be in the frame.

FURIOUS Ashton United boss Gerry Quinn last night called on the FA to launch an immediate inquiry into the UniBond League's highly controversial handling of their internal promotion and relegation issues.

His outburst came less than 48 hours after it emerged league bosses had made two shock decisions which have led to Ashton's Tameside neighbours Hyde United being granted an 11th hour relegation reprieve and brought the season to a confusing and chaotic climax.

Clubs were making last minute preparations for a crucial final round of matches on Friday when they were told the league's management had decide to demote Bishop Auckland from the premier division due to ground problems and similarly deny first division Ossett Town the chance of going up.

That meant Hyde, who were to have gone straight down to division one after finishing next-to-bottom of the premier, were suddenly presented with the prospect of being rendered safe or, at least, of being given chance to fight for their lives in the new end-of-season play-offs.

As things turned out, Ossett's 3-0 win at Radcliffe has spared the Tigers the need to take the play-off route to safety - a cause of huge celebration at Ewen Fields.

But, instead, it has condemned first division Ashton to the play-offs as the win was enough for Ossett to pip the Hurst Cross club to runners-up spot, leaving the Robins, who completed their league programme with a fruitless 2-1 victory over Guiseley to swallow the bitter disappointment of finishing third for an incredible sixth time in 10 years.

Tomorrows play-off semi-finals will now see Ashton hosting Spennymoor, who finished immediately below them, and Radcliffe, who were fifth, visiting the premier's bottom club, Bamber Bridge. Whoever wins the Irongate clash will be at home in the final on Thursday

Ashton chief Quinn has good cause to believe his in-form side have every chance of emerging victorious.

But he is nevertheless seething at what he sees as a deliberate attempt by the UniBond management to save Hyde, who pride themselves on being one of the league's flagship clubs.

Quinn, a schoolteacher, is also struggling to understand the logic of a play-off format which could see Ashton being forced to play the final at the ground of the club two places below them - a situation which surely had some bearing on Radcliffe's decision to rest key players against Ossett in what’s bound to be seen as a deliberate attempt to ensure they finished fifth

Stormed Quinn: "I've always had respect for Duncan Bayley and the people who run the UniBond League, but they should all be thinking about resigning after this fiasco

"The FA ought to launch an immediate inquiry because it's quite obvious in my view that the league management have failed in their duty to represent all the clubs and have instead chosen to look after a privileged few

"I've got a lot of time for Hyde, who I used to play for, but if I was connected with them now, I'd be totally embarrassed.

"As for ourselves, the galling thing is we've been denied automatic promotion by a club who cannot go up. I just feel so sorry for Ossett.

"At the same time, I can't blame Radcliffe for what they did, because, if I'd have been in their manager Kevin Glendon's shoes, I'd have probably done the same. It's the league management to blame."

UniBond secretary Bayley says he understands Quinn's frustration but totally refutes his suggestions of impropriety.

He said: "Four of the seven management committee members who reached these decisions are from first division clubs, so Gerry’s wrong to be making such sweeping statements.

"But we accept that there have been teething troubles with the play-offs, as there always will be with new ventures.

ALTRINCHAM have been issued with a final demand for payment of their £43,000 Inland Revenue liabilities - and threatened with a winding-up order.

The news comes at the end of a period in which shareholders and supporters of the UniBond Premier League club have worked tirelessly -but unsuccessfully - to raise £50,000 needed for the club to survive.

The directors issued a final rallying call for all associated with the club to pull together by joining new initiatives and donating as much money as possible.

"It's not panic mode yet, but it is not far short," said director Dave Tracey. "Things are looking very dark at the moment. It is obvious by the wording of their demand that the Inland Revenue's Collections Department is losing patience with us."

The club recently held an open meeting where the board came clean about the club's financial plight and announced a number of fundraising initiatives, which have been quite successful.

Tracey went on: "We are doubling our efforts to make sure these initiatives are taken up to the full extent and we are trying to bring forward revenue we expect such as season ticket sales, in an attempt to make up this cash shortfall.

"Our first task is to correspond with the Revenue, and we will impress upon them that the matter is an urgent priority and ask that we be given a little more time.

"We are trying as best we can. We are making plenty of phone calls."

Outgoing chairman Mark Harris said he was not surprised about the winding up order.

"Of course this is very bad news, but it is not entirely unexpected," he said. "It is a fact of life that football clubs pay tax and the money will have to be raised, sooner rather than later.

"It is not just about cutting costs, generating income also plays an equally significant part."

HOT ON the heels of Premier Division Bishop Auckland being demoted, First Division Ossett Town - challenging for an automatic promotion place - have been told the UniBond League will not allow them to move up.

The decision came after Ossett were visited by the League's ground grading committee.

The Yorkshire club were told on Friday afternoon - just before their key away game with Radcliffe Borough - by the League's secretary and acting chairman Duncan Bayley - and immediately said they would consider an appeal.

The furious club accused UniBond officials of "lack of co-operation" and said they "simply cannot believe" their decision.

In March, the league told Ossett they needed to erect a covered area to bring accommodation up to 1,000.

The club immediately set about plans to construct a covered stand on the far side of the ground which was completed on Thursday evening - and ready to host play-off games on Bank Holiday Monday if the club were involved.

Spokesman Andy Wilkinson said: "The stand would have been finished on Monday evening, but bad weather and some let-downs by contractors meant it was not finished when the grading committee inspected our facilities.

"A 48-hour delay did not seem too much to ask considering the club have played 41 matches this season to put themselves in a position to achieve promotion.

"The club apologies to its supporters, but we simply cannot believe that the league, with whom we have co-operated on every issue since joining three seasons ago, would refuse to give us this 48 hours leeway.

"What rankles is that over the Easter period we were victims of an administrative error by the league when a player, signed on deadline day, could not play despite being correctly registered with both them and the Football Association.

"It seems clear to all at Ossett Town that co-operation in this league is a one way street. At this stage the club is deciding what action it will take, with an appeal a possibility."

THE UNIBOND'S new play-off system was in chaos this weekend with confusion at both the bottom of the Premier and top of the First Divisions.

Premier Division Bishop Auckland, who had escaped relegation, were demoted after League officials ruled their new groundshare arrangement at neighbours Shildon did not meet grade A status.

Meanwhile Ossett Town, who finished in the second First Division automatic promotion spot, cannot go up because improvements to their Ingfield ground were not completed in time.

Both clubs are likely to appeal to the FA.

Now two teams will be promoted from the First Division rather than three, with Bamber Bridge, who were last week relegated from the Premier, granted a stay of execution to play First Division Radcliffe Borough in the first play-off semi-final.

The winner of that game will then meet the victor of Ashton United's clash with Spennymoor United for the remaining place in the Premier Division.

League secretary and acting chairman Duncan Bayley insists rules state ground gradings must be completed by April 30, but both the affected clubs believe they should have been granted more time.

"We could have completed the required changes if they had given us just one more week. We've worked very hard with Shildon to get the ground up to standard," said Bishops secretary Tony Duffy.

"It is still four months to the start of the season and we are astonished - we will be putting together an appeal to the Football Association. ,

"We are not a wealthy club and could have done without this. We acknowledged improvements needed to be made, but now we've spent money we did not need to."

Ossett Town are also in a state of shock. They missed the ground grading deadline by just 48 hours -and their ground is now ready for Premier football. But Bayley is standing by his `rules are rules' decision.

Meanwhile Bamber Bridge are in something of a no-win situation over the late decision to give them

The South Ribble outfit will have a problem just getting together 14 players for their game with Radcliffe tomorrow.

Chairman David Spencer said the decision had given Brig a lifeline, but manager Paul Byron was left making anxious phone calls trying to cobble together a side for the unexpected match.

Only a few days ago the manager was breaking bad news to some players that they would not figure in his plans for next season. "I must have been on the phone until 10.30 on Friday trying to find players," he said. "I will be spending the rest of the weekend doing the same.

"I'm scratching around to get a team together. It's a ludicrous situation. We have been fined twice and deducted a point this season because of administrative errors, yet this is the biggest cock-up of the lot. Who will fine the League?"

But Spencer said: "This could be the turning point for Bamber Bridge - a lifeline that could keep us in the Premier Division.

"We have been working hard behind the scenes to avoid administration. Everything seems to be coming together at last.

"Recent times have been very fruitful thanks to the efforts of those around the club and the fans. Now we have a chance to take that a step further."

ALTRINCHAM manager Bernard Taylor has admitted that as the season comes to an end, his overriding emotion is tone of disappointment.

Taylor and his deputy Graham Heathcote have taken the Robins to the second round of the FA Cup and the final of the Cheshire Senior Cup, while maintaining a title challenge for more than seven months.

But still, the lack of silverware is something Bernard feels he has to atone for.

Speaking to SAM Sport earlier this week, he said, "I feel I have let the club and the supporters down by not delivering one piece of silverware all season.

Don't get me wrong, I love the FA Cup and to get within ;touching distance of the third round was great, but we have not got one single trophy to put on the table and that hurts me."

Altrincham's contrary season was summed up in three days at the weekend, when an impressive 3-0 win at Gainsborough Trinity was followed by a Monday night home defeat at the hands of Emley.

Speaking of the Emley game, Bernard admitted that that saddened him as well.

"I was a bit disappointed to be honest. I thought we did enough just to nick at least a draw, but a couple of slip-ups let them in.

"If you make little mistakes like not talking to each other and not organising things - like we did on Monday - you are going to let yourselves down," he added.

Taylor remained tight-lipped about who Heathcote's successor may be, when the Alty veteran's contract runs out in June - only revealing that a number of people from outside the club had expressed an interest.

Many people connected with Altrincham are tipping centre back and team captain Mark Sertori for the job, but this will depend on him agreeing to the offer of wages for next season a decision all players who wish to stay at Moss Lane will have to make.

Altrincham take on Worksop Town at Moss Lane on Saturday, looking to record their first home win since mid February.

You can find Messenger's Kids go Free at Alty FC voucher on page 95 (of the Messenger).

Mr. ALTRINCHAM, Graham Heathcote, one of the best known names in Non-League, will leave Moss Lane at the end of June after more than 30 years with the UniBond club.

A jack-of-all-trades throughout this season as secretary, coach and assistant manager to Bernard Taylor, Heathcote first donned the red and white Ally strip during the 1971/72 season, aged 11.

Often criticised throughout his playing career for being lazy, the talented midfielder more than made amends with his passing ability and powerful shooting and scored 146 goals for the club.

Heathcote made his decision to enhance his own managerial future. "It is now my ambition to progress my footballing career and I feel this will be best served away from Altrincham," he said.

"There is much sadness in my decision because of my long association with the club. But having faced many difficulties over the last three years I have been contracted, I feel the time is now right.

"The new board of directors should be given the opportunity to structure the football club to their own shape and I hope the club goes from strength to strength."

ALTRINCHAM boss Bernard Taylor will not rush into replacing coach Graham Heathcote following the Moss Lane stalwart's expected announcement that he is about to leave the Robins.

Heathcote, who only weeks ago was named a freeman of Altrincham for his sterling service to the town team over 30 years, has confirmed he's to walk away from his beloved Alty when his current contract expires at the end of June, leaving Taylor to find a new right-hand man and the Robins a new club secretary

Taylor had been expected to make an appointment late last week, with Alty's two most experienced players, ex-Bury star Kevin Hulme and his former Shakers' team-mate Mark Sertori, among those tipped for the job.

But the Robins' chief has told the Sunday Pink that a decision might now have to wait until he has a clearer picture of how far his finances for next season will stretch - and that could be some weeks off.

Taylor said: "Seven or eight people have already contacted me about coming here as my assistant and two of them, in particular, have fabulous credentials, but I don't think I'm going to be able to afford to offer some of them the sort of cash they'd be looking for.

"Either Kevin or Mark would, I know, do me a great job and it might be that, with money tight, we'd be best served by having a player/coach.

"At the moment, it's impossible to say, but I'm quite happy to keep my options open, because this is a decision I want to get right, even though, ultimately, it'll be still me who's in charge.

"I asked Graham to stay, but he has his mind set on other things. When he goes, I'll be losing a friend as well as a good coach."

Taylor's own position is about to change in that, as from next term, he'll no longer be full-time.

He has accepted the board's offer of a new one-year contract, but working purely on a part-time basis.

Heathcote, who is, ironically nearing the end of his testimonial season was offered the chance to stay on a; Altrincham's full-time secretary but on a greatly reduced wage.

But he has opted instead to leave the club he joined as a 17-year-old an( is now looking to pursue his managerial ambitions elsewhere.

He said: "There is much sadness it my decision but I now feel the time is right for me to leave. I hope the club goes from strength to strength and would like to thank everyone who has helped me in my time here."

Heathcote, who, as either a player or coach, has shared in just about all Altrincham's glorious exploits of the last three decades, might not be the only big name leaving Moss Lane this summer.

Only three players - Rod Thornley Jason Gallagher and Ian Craney are on contract for next season, leaving Taylor with the task of persuading other key squad members to stay on a much-reduced budget.

Taylor added: "A lot of lads will be going and I fear some of them will be ones I want to keep. I won't blame them if they do, all footballers try to get the best deals they can, and understandably so.

ALTRINCHAM manager Bernard Taylor has committed his future to the club for a further year on a part-time basis - but he will have a new assistant by his side.

Coach and club secretary Graham Heathcote turned down the reduced offer he was made of the post of secretary, and has announced that his future lies outside Moss Lane.

Heathcote, who was not offered the position of coach, released a statement last week

saying he felt his ambition of furthering his football career was better served away from Altrincham football club.

He added, "I hope the way forward as indicated by the board of directors at the open meeting recently is kept to, as far too often the supporters have been disappointed by the event of the last two years."

Heathcote's desire to seek his foot balling fortune elsewhere may yet be added to that list of disappointments, as many fans have expressed a wish to see him stay.

Speaking after Tuesday's 3-2 reverse at home to Lancaster City Bernard admitted, "I tried to persuade Graham to stay, but he has made his decision."

When asked about his own situation, he played it down in customary fashion, adding "It's not about me. It's about Altrincham Football Club moving forward."

It is believed that Taylor has been approached by around five people, expressing an interest in becoming his number two for next season.

I wish to confirm that when my current contract expires on the 30th June 2002 I have decided to leave my position as Secretary of Altrincham Football Club.

The football club did make me an offer on greatly reduced terms and conditions to carry on as the full-time Secretary. However, it is my personal ambition to progress my footballing career and I feel this will be best served away from Altrincham Football Club. There is much sadness in my decision because of my long association with the club, but I now feel the time is right having faced many difficulties during the last three years in which I have been contracted. I feel the new Board of Directors should be given the opportunity to structure the football club to their own shape. I hope the football club goes from strength to strength and the way forward as indicated in the statement issued by the Board of Directors at the open meeting on Saturday, 30th March 2002 is kept to, as far too often the supporters have been disappointed by events of the last few years.

I would like to thank everyone who has helped me in my time at the club and I hope they believe I carried out my duties in a professional manner and the name of Altrincham Football Club is well respected throughout football and that I have played my part.

Graham Heathcote

Approved: David Tracey ........... Director

Approved: Bob Peters…………..Director

Date: 09/04/2002