Many fans who had been boycotting Brunton Park returned to the ground following an appeal by the Irish millionaire to get back behind the team in the run-up to his expected takeover. Over 10,000 attended the two games against Darlington and Exeter City last month but progress between Courtenay and Michael Knighton has stalled recently and gates have dropped back to almost pre-takeover levels. Mr Steel, secretary of the independent supporters' trust CCUIST, has vowed to continue attending home games as long as the bid is still on the table. He used to regularly make the 600-mile round trip from his home in Pontypool, South Wales and refuse to enter the ground. He ended his boycott last month and intends to stick it out. "As far as we are concerned we have given our commitment to John Courtenay that, while the deal is still going, we will be there. But people who have been very adamantly going to every single home game and who said they would never boycott are now saying they would not under any circumstances go back if this deal falls through," he said. "John Courtenay is as determined as ever to take the club over. There have obviously been a few hiccups, but they have not reduced his commitment. All of us want it to happen as we have gone through yet another season without a change of ownership. It is obvious what potential is there." Courtenay himself is remaining upbeat about the chances of a quick conclusion to the deal. Despite rumours of the whole thing collapsing over the weekend with manager Roddy Collins again on the point of resigning, the Dublin-based freight magnate believes the end is finally in sight. "We are definitely still talking, " he said. "So many issues that were holding it up have been overcome. We now have paperwork that we didn't have before. We are now very close to being able to complete the deal. Michael Knighton has been very co-operative." Billy's Babes join pros list Brunton Babes Marc Nixon, Stuart Bell and Michael Dickinson have been offered professional contracts for next season. The lucky three received the good news earlier this week from United's youth team coach Billy Barr. However it was disappointment for the other seven second-year YTS players who were told they are not part of the club's future plans. The unlucky group are Richard Nicholson, Gary Brown, Paul Bruce, Neil Blades, Mike McKie, Andrew Mitchell and Richard Nicholson. They are now likely to be offered terms by local non-league outfits such as Workington Reds, Barrow, Gretna and Penrith. In the early 90s Derek Townsley, now a Scottish Premier League star with Hibs, was released but bounced back to prove the club wrong. Dickinson and Nixon both play up front whilst Bell normally appears on the left wing. The trio are the first to break through to the professional ranks who were not signed up by former youth coach David Wilkes. Picture from News & Star |
