COUNCIL AND SUPPORTERS GROUPS TO MEET REGULARLY ON FUTURE OF BRENTFORD FC

New era of co-operation plus fund raising efforts reach first landmark

Leaders of Hounslow Council and the Supporters' Groups at Brentford FC have agreed to a series of frequent meetings with the objective of resolving the issues surrounding the problems of identifying a site for a new stadium.

It is recognized by everyone that there is no ideal site in the borough but both sides are hopeful that a compromise can be reached which will satisfy both the football club and the local community.

John McGlashan, Chairman of Bees United, the Brentford Supporters Trust, said, "I welcome these meetings with the Council, and have impressed upon them the importance of reaching an agreement as quickly as we can. It is not possible to lay down a timetable for agreement but, everyone is fully aware of the urgency of the situation."

Pete Johnston, Chairman of BIAS, added, "The Council are not going to grant planning permission without a number of conditions attached. One of them is that Brentford must have a site for a new stadium. We welcome that, but at the same time we acknowledge that identifying a site is extremely difficult, so a speedy and successful conclusion to these meetings is absolutely vital
to our future."

He added that the last thing Bias wanted to see was Brentford becoming like Wimbledon FC, a club in exile.

Councillor Luke Kirton of the ABeeC Campaign, who was elected purely on the basis of securing a new stadium for both the club and the community, is also attending the meetings and stated, "There has been a definite change in attitudes since the local elections, and this is partly due to my own election but is also a tribute to the way Brentford's supporters have raised the profile of the whole issue. I am heartened to see both the supporters and the Council striving to provide a facility which the football club, the Council, and the people of West Middlesex can be proud of."

The Council are also keen to help the club plan for a successful future and Leader of the Council John Chatt said, "Brentford Football Club is an important asset to the Borough of Hounslow. The Council is liasing with all the parties concerned in order to find a way forward that will protect the interests of the Club and guarantee its future development. So far negotiations have been very constructive."

Club Fund Raising reaches quarter of a million mark

In a related development, Bees Utd, the supporters trust aiming to buy out chairman Ron Noades� controlling shares in Brentford Football Club, has reached the quarter mark in its appeal to raise £1-million before the start of the new season.

The club wants the money to back its take-over of the club and to run it through the coming season. Without it, Brentford faces a real danger of going into administration by the end of July - and possibly even liquidation by September.

Although only in existance for less than a year, Bees Utd has already had a supporter elected to the main football club board and successfully fought the recently local council elections - giving fans a voice in both the club and with Hounslow Council over the acquisition of a new ground to replace the aging Griffin Park.

It has also had useful discussions with the local ethnic population as part of its further aim to turn Brentford FC into London�s first community football club with a ground and players available to help everyone in its area.

Today it announced that after just five weeks of its new appeal for funds, it has raised almost £250,000 in cash and pledges .

The amount does not include further money the trust hopes to raise from negotiations with the many major international companies in its area, nor does it include expected earnings from a number of fund raising activities which are still being organised both by official and unofficial supporters groups.

�We have had dozens of ideas from our fans, who are really getting behind our appeal to save Brentford,� says Bees Utd chairman John McGlashan, the man chosen by the trust to represent supporters on the main Brentford FC board. �For the first time for some months I am now optimistic there will continue to be a Brentford Football Club in the future.�

Bias - Brentford Supporters Group