Their secretary Alan Steel said the offer would not provide a solution to the problems at Brunton Park. The same offer was also made to would-be buyers John Courtenay and Brooks Mileson. Mileson described the offer as "nonsensical". Only Andrew Lapping, who is a director of Motherwell FC has indicated any willingness to lease the club from current owner Michael Knighton. Mr Steel was speaking at the CCUIST annual golf day, where Mileson and fellow United contender John Courtenay were guests of honour. The event, at Eden Golf Club near Carlisle attracted 25 teams in a CCUIST fund raiser. Courtenay had been rumoured to be meeting Knighton this weekend as frantic attempts are made to sell the club before creditors vote on the CVA proposals being finalised by administrators BKR Haines Watts on Friday August 2. "I don't think it's a possibility as long as Michael Knighton has anything to do with the club," said Mr Steel, commenting on the lease offer. "From the response to the survey carried out by the News & Star and the response from the people at our annual meeting on Sunday, people won't go back while he's there." Reynolds has been hired by Knighton to act as his agent in negotiations to sell the club. Mr Knighton owns 93 per cent through his holding company, CUFC Holdings. The club went into administration last month with debts of over £1 million. Players and staff have not been paid for the past two months. The main creditors are the Inland Revenue and HM Customs & Excise. Billy to manage Cumbrians as admins put off decision Billy Barr has been told to carry on as United's part-time manager after administrators from BKR Haines Watts announced they would not be appointing a new boss before the start of the season. It is thought they will wait for the administration order to be discharged or a sale of the business takes place before naming a new manager. Barr has been in the role since Roddy Collins was shown the door last April following comments made to the local radio station. Names in the frame for the job have included Kevin Sheedy, Andy Kilner, Brian Little, Shaun Teale, Edson Silva and Peter Weir. However it now seems Barr has the job indefinitely. He is doing it virtually single-handedly after temporary assistant David Wilkes accepted a position as Mick Wadsworth's right-hand man at Huddersfield Town. Former Darlo boss Gary Bennett was also linked with the job yesterday but said that he hadn't been contacted by anyone from United although he would be interested in the job if offered it. The Cumbrians have a squad of just sixteen with several players on trial, including the 33-year-old former Crewe and Blackpool player Phil Clarkson. It's a lockout! Any hopes struggling United had of a pre-season cash boost have all but disappeared after administrators decided to hold pre-season friendlies against Preston North End and Halifax Town behind closed doors. Brunton Park does have a safety certificate which expires on July 31 but a decision was taken to lock out the public with work still being done on the stadium. A very small crowd was expected with only the Paddock and main stand open. Over 90% of United's regular support from last season say they will not attend home games this season if the ownership does not change. The Preston match is on Sunday week with the Halifax fixture on August 5. There is still a slight chance of the public being allowed in to see the latter game. Picture from News & Star |
