YOU ARE VIEWING ARTICLE - ID:20070611015

Title: Doncaster Lakers Subtitle: Chairman Would Not Sack Everybody Author: John Wright  ID & Publication: 20070611015 ~ The-Villager.co.uk  Area: Doncaster  Subject: Sport (Local)

Doncaster Lakers chairman John Wright has been quiet of late as he has attempted to find new owners for the ailing club but has now been forced to respond to accusations from club Chief Executive, Tony Hannan, in the Doncaster Star, that the local businessmen who failed to go through with their promise to buy the club did so because of a potential claim by sacked coach Keiran Dempsey for £90,000.

‘Not only is Hannan’s statement inaccurate it could damage any potential deals being put together to save the club. Keiran Dempsey was subject to the CVA and as such cannot claim from the club. This applies to all employees who may have a claim against the club prior to the CVA date of the 24th May.

The document, referred to in the Star article, which was presented to Joan and myself by Miller and his advisor, asked us to sack all the club employees including the players before the agreement was signed and for us to personally indemnify the new owners from any claims for that unfair dismissal.

The agreement asked me to liquidate the club and let them start afresh with a new company, and I was prepared to let that happen, but I was not prepared to sack everyone. I should like to make it clear that Tony Hannan was not at the meeting with Shane Miller and his accountant advisor, only Joan at I were present for the club.

Joan & I find this constant barrage of insults and innuendos totally unacceptable and wish it to be known that we wish to have nothing further to do with the club’, said a clearly disappointed and disillusioned John Wright.

The club have received correspondence from solicitors acting on behalf of Dempsey and they have been forwarded to O’ Hara & Co who acting for the club in the CVA and they have assured the club that Dempsey has no claim against the Lakers.

‘Miller and Harrison had a long meeting with the RFL last week and decided they couldn’t afford to fund the club despite the fact that I was prepared to sell the club and all its assets for £1 and both of them confirmed that to be the case over the phone, so why this strange story about Dempsey being the reason for their withdrawal I don’t understand’ said Wright.

There are no pictures to accompany this article