NORTHWICH Vics are in limbo after they were locked out of their ground last week.
In a bizarre twist to the ongoing sale saga of their Marston’s Arena base in Wincham, Vics were forced to play their home clash with Histon at Altrincham on Saturday.
Former chairman Mike Connett, who still technically owns the stadium despite his Beaconet firm going into administration, locked the gates and removed vital safety equipment.
Beaconet faces a winding-up hearing later this month.
Club owner Jim Rushe said: “I don’t exactly know what has been taken as I have not been able to get in the ground but according to Trading Standards, he has taken firefighting equipment, fire alarms, CCTV equipment and anything that he is claiming is owned by Beaconet.
“He is supposed to be taking the floodlights and the goalposts but he’ll have a problem with that as they were purchased using a grant from the Football Foundation.
“It was always going to happen when your landlord has got financial difficulties. This is what happens when you don’t own your own ground.”
Rushe said that until the solicitors from each party reach an agreement, the chances of Vics operating out of the Marston’s Arena in the near future look bleak.
He said: “Everything is with the solicitors now deciding who’s wrong and right. The club is in limbo.”
A spokesman for Cheshire County Council’s Trading Standards department confirmed that officers had enforced a prohibition order on the ground to prevent spectators viewing a match because of health and safety fears.
Just 428 supporters made it in time to Altrincham’s Moss Lane stadium to see Vics’ agonising 2-1 defeat (see page 30) following the last-minute change of plans.
Rushe said that it was unlikely Altrincham would be used for home matches again due to the high cost to the club.
The Vics owner also confirmed that his consortium is close to getting together the £1.5m needed to buy the Marston’s Arena.
Buying the stadium from Deloitte, the finance company that seized the ground as part of the administration process, would solve many of the problems currently facing Vics.
On the field, manager Steve King quickly took advantage of the transfer embargo being lifted last week by signing three players on loan to improve the squad.
Karl Murray, 26, has joined Vics from Blue Square South side Bromley, 32-year-old Lee Elam has signed on non-contract terms from Altrincham and unattached David McDonald used to be on Rushden’s books.
King said: “By bringing better players into the squad, it will improve the situation.”
Bottom-of-the-league Vics travel to 13th-placed Weymouth (3pm) on Saturday followed on Tuesday by a visit to Wrexham (7.45pm).
