The last straw' Stanley owner to step away citing 'vendetta' against club

ACCRINGTON Stanley owner Andy Holt has announced he will "end [his] time at the club in any executive capacity" after claiming the council has a "vendetta" against his club.

- BY JON MACPHERSON

The businessman, who took control of the club nearly a decade ago, made the announcement on Sunday, April 27 in a bombshell statement after the League Two club was hit with a series of sanctions.

Mr Holt claims the "undermining of the club has gone on since day one".

He cites recent actions including the removal of planning permission, a noise abatement order and a removal of their licence to sell alcohol on non-matchdays.

He is now set to step down as chairman after next weekend's season finale at home to Chesterfield, saying: "I'm not wasting any more of my life arguing with the council, councillors or MPs that should support the best asset in the town."

The full statement read: "This is the last straw. Accrington Stanley Ladies Day, an event that never happened until we started it, was held at Fence Gate during the DAYTIME, whilst our multi-million pound facilities stand empty, silence because of the council and councillors working against their club behind my back, as though I didn't know what was going on.

"The undermining of the club has gone on since day one.