Trust's mixed feelings

The Blue and Gold Trust last night stated it had 'mixed feelings' over the decision to award speedway boss Buster Chapman a lease to form the town's new club at the council-owned Walks stadium.

The Blue and Gold Trust last night stated it had 'mixed feelings' over the decision to award speedway boss Buster Chapman a lease to form the town's new club at the council-owned Walks stadium.

The fans-led body submitted a rival bid that was rejected by West Norfolk council but the group's 360-strong membership has pledged to continue representing rank-and-file supporters.

In a statement it said: "We're feeling mixed emotions. We're delighted, like all supporters of football in King's Lynn, that we'll have a club to support next season. It was critical that when the company was wound up, that didn't mean the death of football in the town. King's Lynn's football club, in whatever form it takes, represents the fans and the community of the town and it must continue.

"On the other hand we're obviously disappointed that the decision didn't favour our model of supporter-and-community-ownership - one where the fans who sustain the football club are the ones who own it.

"However, the council have reached a clear view that Keith (Buster) Chapman's bid met all the requirements that were required by the local authority. As this includes the critical need for supporters to be knitted into the fabric of the club, we look forward, as the group that represents nearly half of King's Lynn fans, to sitting down with Buster to discuss how we can meaningfully place supporters at the club's heart."

The Trust statement also paid tribute to the unstinting work by both members and volunteers that went into launching a bid to reform the Linnets and added: "We should all now move on together, and work as a team to build a club that the whole community can be proud of, and one which will be safe and secure, and never again have its future threatened."