Steel has urged members of the Supporters' Trust to reject a proposal put forward by the Board to relinquish their option on a second 20% of the shares in CUFC Holdings, the company that owns 95% of the football club. CCUIST already owns 20% of CUFC Holdings but still needs to raise over £250,000 to fully pay for the shares. He wrote to past and present CCUIST members last week without the permission or knowledge of the CCUIST Board which brought a strong rebuke from Rowley this week. Speaking to the News & Star she said: "Alan's actions have been very disappointing as he has just pursued his own agenda. He has sent two letters out to CCUIST members recently but the Board knew nothing about either of them. He has been doing things off his own bat and the fact he has written to people who are no longer members of CCUIST is a concern." Rowley urged members to back the proposal put forward by the Board and supported by Courtenay. "The CCUIST membership need to realise that we have only paid for a third of the first 20 per cent of shares. If we don't give up the option on the second 20 per cent we are going to have to come up with a lot of money in a short space of time to pay for them and the remainder of the first batch of shares. The simple fact is the Trust cannot afford the second set of shares and the club is in a position when they need money immediately. Selling the shares now will make it viable for the club to go into next season in a decent position." Courtenay joined in the attack yesterday when he accused Steel of being a 'maverick' and muddying the waters as the club go into the last vital six matches of the season still five points adrift of safety at the bottom of the league. "Alan wants to stir things up and is behaving like a maverick," said Courtenay. "CCUIST have raised £130,000 out of the £400,000 required so they are still £270,000 short. Nine of the 10 members of the CCUIST board agreed to give up their option on the second 20 per cent of shares but Steel seems to think the football club is here to help CCUIST not the other way round," he said. Steel is hoping he can persuade enough members to block the proposal at a Special General Meeting arranged for Sunday April 18 at Brunton Park. However Courtenay made it clear that he would go ahead and sell 20 per cent of his own shareholding if members rejected the proposal. United hope for Easter bonus as survival battle reaches final furlong United's Great Escape bid could gain vital momentum over Easter as they play two crucial matches in the space of 48 hours. On Saturday they are at home to Kidderminster Harriers and on Easter Monday travel down to London to face Leyton Orient. Neither opponent is in imminent danger of relegation and Carlisle must be hoping that their extra desire and will to win will make all the difference. They collected a vital three points at Swansea last week, their second successive away win and second consecutive victory at the Vetch Field, repeating the scoreline of last season. Now striker Craig Farrell has issued a plea to his manager Paul Simpson to take him off the transfer list. Farrell, 21, has been listed since last October although Simpson recently admitted he would block any move to sell him at the moment. Four goals in his last six games has lifted Farrell into joint top scoring position with his boss, both of them on six goals. Agent Philip Woodisse, who represents Farrell, is confident that his client will still be at Brunton Park next season. "He wants to stay at Carlisle regardless of whether they go up or down. He is under contract until the end of next season and even if the club went down to the Conference, I'm sure he would have a lot of fun trying to get them back up at the first attempt," he said. Meanwhile, the Cumbrians are set to welcome back another of their injured stars for the Easter double-header. Left back Tom Cowan is available again after missing the last five games with a hamstring pull. He is in contention for a defensive spot although Peter Murphy may keep him out. Simpson is hopeful Paul Raven may be available again before the end of the season. He is definitely without Chris Billy, Will McDonagh and Kevin Henderson for the remainder of the campaign. Picture from News & Star |
