Representatives of the Carlisle & Cumbria United Independent Supporters' Trust (CCUIST), formed just under 10 months ago, have been in talks with the millionaire Irishman and are confident of being able to purchase 18% of Courtenay's share, at the market value. The remaining 7 per cent of shares are owned by supporters and CCUIST are hoping to persuade people to hand over their shares in return for becoming members of the trust. CCUIST chairman Mike Corry has met Courtenay and has been impressed with his commitment to the club and his understanding of the trust's ambitions. And once Courtenay completes the deal with Michael Knighton on Monday, Corry and other trust committee members hope to meet the new owner to thrash out details of the share purchase. "After Monday the opportunity will be there for us to sit down with John Courtenay and negotiate how much we will pay for the shares. He has indicated he will let us have 18 per cent. That will leave him with 75 per cent. He has spoken to me about it and realises we won't have the cash now. He is willing to give us time. We have £60,000 in the bank and pledges take us to around £130,000," said Mr Corry. "If it all goes through on Monday, he has already done a tremendous job for Carlisle United supporters, the county of Cumbria and the city of Carlisle in taking Knighton from the scene. To get as far as he has he must have shown a tremendous amount of patience," he added. CCUIST now hope to work in partnership with the club, and help to take over supporters' club activities and with funding the youth system. In return for their 25% share, the trust would also get a representative on the board of directors. Mr Corry said: "A director on the board would be there to make sure everything was transparent. John Courtenay has said he wants everything to be transparent so that there are no accusations that anyone is ripping people off. But the supporters' representative is not going to be able to dive straight out of a meeting into the Beehive and tell everyone who we are about to sign. They will have a responsibility to the club as a director." |
