Stratford Town in advanced talks with local business consortium

STRATFORD Town Football Club's directors are at an advanced stage of negotiations with a local business consortium, headed by former Solihull Moors director Steve Shipway.

Town plan to appoint several new board members, including a chairman, to join their existing board to create an "exciting vision for the club's future".

Shipway, also a former director of Birmingham City Ladies, is expected to take up the role as club chairman.

Meanwhile, Town plan to appoint a new first-team manager within the next two weeks after being "overwhelmed" by interest in the post since Carl Adams' resignation last Tuesday.A club statement said: "We have made some excellent progress and are at an advanced stage of negotiations with a group of local, football-loving businessmen led by Steve Shipway, with all parties sharing the same exciting vision for our club’s future.

"We plan to appoint new board members to join the existing board members in a move which will bring substantial additional strengths and skill sets to the commercial, operational and football acumen of the club’s boardroom team.

"Regards the vacant first-team manager's position, the club have been overwhelmed by the volume and quality of approaches we have received from interested parties which underlines just how attractive our club is to prospective managers and coaches even prior to advertising the post.

"We anticipate the conclusion of the new board structure and the appointment of a new first-team manager to be made within the next two weeks, so for all Town supporters there is the promise of some exciting times ahead."