Trust ready to stake their claim

Blue and Gold Trust chairman Neil Timms insisted yesterday King's Lynn's large fan base must play a key role in any re-launched football club at The Walks.

Timms confirmed the supporters' body will spend this weekend finalising their own business plan ahead of Monday's deadline to submit applications for the lease on the council-owned stadium.

Lynn's former finance director David Handley and King's Lynn speedway chief Buster Chapman stepped up their own rival campaigns this week.

Handley has held positive talks with the FA to clarify his role in the failed previous regime while Chapman revealed he would appoint former Linnets' boss Kevin Boon to run his football affairs.

Timms, however, is adamant the winning bidder awarded the lease following next week's council cabinet meeting and final presentations must engage with rank-and-file supporters.

"The council will ultimately decide but as a Trust we believe that we should now have more importance and influence in trying to stabilise our club," he said.

"The council have made it clear supporters should have a strategic involvement and if there is any good that can come out of what has been a very, very frustrating few months for King's Lynn supporters it's that we can play now play a role in helping whatever replaces the old club.

"King's Lynn must be sustainable in the long term - not just the next five years, but beyond.

"We've consistently said at every stage, though, if we were unsuccessful then the Trust would still look to be involved because we feel it's now vital after what happened to our club that the supporters must have a strong voice."

Timms confirmed Trust representatives had held further talks with both the Handley and Chapman camps.

"Yes, we have spoken to both parties and we have listened to what they had to say with interest," he said.

"I've also read some of Buster's plans to re-brand the club name and who he wants to come in on the football side.

"For us, we're spending this weekend trying to make our bid as competitive as possible and focussing on what we feel is important at this stage.

"We feel there are more important issues than emblems and web sites. It's about getting this club up and running so I don't know really the value of talking about directors of football or who the possible manager might be going forward. It's going to be next season before we can get a team on the pitch."

Timms reiterated the Trust would not favour a return to the previous ownership model.

"We firmly believe and it has been shown that one man and one man's money is not the way forward," he said.

"We feel supporters should be part of the club's future and the club's organisation."