Tony Clarke leaves board of NTFC
It has been announced that local councillor and former Northampton South MP Tony Clarke has left the board of Northampton Town Football Club after over 10 years service.
Mr Clarke became General Manager of the club in 2005, after leaving Parliament, until 2008. After a period of part time involvement he then came off the club's payroll in May 2010. However he will still keep an active involvement in the football club's activities and will remain as the chief executive of the club's Northampton Town Football in the Community charity scheme which provides activity - alongside the Study Support Centre - for over 50,000 local children each year.
Mr Clarke said: "I still love this club with a passion, but sometimes you have to move on to help freshen things up. I also want to simply be a fan again and go to games on a match day in my jeans and watch the game and not worry about the size of the gate or what else I should be doing. I have said to the chairman that I will always be available to help the club out in the future when needed or to advise as we go forward with our plans, but I can achieve that as easily from the terraces and stands as I could from the boardroom."
The club's development plans have been put on hold following years of discussions between the local council and NTFC over what development would be allowed. The current state of the economy has led to David Cardoza saying that it is not feasible at the moment to carry out any plan, given the restrictions in place.
Tony Clarke, who is also a local borough and county councillor, said: "My decision to step down from the board might not be so welcome at the Town Hall. Because of the conflict of interest I was always denied the opportunity to speak on the subject of the re-development when it was raised in debate. Now the gloves can come off and I can tell them a few unwelcome truths as to how successive councils have let the club down."
Speaking on Mr Clarke's departure from the board, Chairman David Cardoza said: "Tony is Northampton through and through and will continue with the good fight for NTFC. Tony now wants to be able to watch football without the distractions associated with being a director, and we wish him well. I am very happy with the make up of the board. Everybody involved has a passion to bring success to NTFC both on and off the field. In the most challenging of environments the board and all the staff are doing everything they can to see us as a well run successful family and community club."
The Board of Directors is now as follows:
David Cardoza
Tony Cardoza
Barry Hancock
David Jackson
Barrie Egan - Finance Director
Anthony Collett - Supporters Representative
Norman Howells - Company Secretary
Posted by: Northampton Town Football Club
