Grimsby Town adviser Stephen Marley 'can play big part in new stadium plans'
GRIMSBY Town's new adviser to the board wants to ensure there are no more "false starts" over the club's plans for a new stadium.
Stephen Marley is today confirmed in the new role having previously served as Town's accountant.
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WELCOME: From left, John Elsom, Stephen Marley, John Fenty and Mike Chapman. Picture: Duncan Young
And the Mariners fan is set to play a key part in the planned relocation project – a scheme he knows well from his 35-year involvement with the club.
As reported, the club has teamed up with Simons Development Ltd to "investigate the viability" of using a 22.7-hectare plot off Peaks Parkway for a new stadium, which could also have community use and a retail outlet.
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Following his recent retirement as senior partner with Weaver Wroot – Town's accountants and auditors – Marley is hopeful he can help take the project forward in his new capacity.
"I've been involved with the club over a lot of years and I've seen a number of false starts with the stadium," he told the Telegraph.
"A lot of my clients who know that I have been involved with the club regularly ask me what's going on and how things are going.
"And I'm certain that if the club is ever going to get a new stadium it will certainly do so with the current board of directors."
"My involvement has been to do with the financial aspects of it – budgeting planning, taxation matters and everything related to that. As far as I'm aware that will all continue.
"This is a method for enabling me to continue to provide my services, advice and help to the football club in a more official capacity."
The relocation plan suffered a blow earlier this month when the club failed to secure funding from the £1-billion Regional Growth Fund.
But Town director John Fenty insists that doesn't spell the end of the scheme.
He said: "Stephen will certainly be a big part of hopefully helping us to deliver a relocation.
"We were disappointed that we weren't successful with the Regional Growth Fund bid, but at the same time that doesn't put a block on the project – it might change the scale of the project but we still hope and intend to deliver.
"It's a broad directive to deliver a relocation and everybody has a hand in that, but of course Stephen's skills will be most beneficial in terms of taking that forward.
"But he will impact on every area of the football club and have the same duties as a director.
"We're in good shape but we're still looking to progress and the football club can only benefit from Stephen's knowledge."
Comments
by Dexxx
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 7:10PM
“Well if this appointment isn't an admission of incompetence I don't know what is”
by Observer_2
Tuesday, October 23 2012, 4:22PM
“About time the club took additional help and advice. Mr Marley will be an asset but only if he is strong enough to stand up and air his views and opinions. Mr Fenty rules the club, perhaps rightly so given the money he has put in, but he needs new blood and above all he needs to accept help. The structure of the club is too set in its ways. Fentys ways. New blood, new ideas please”