Step aside now, says ex-player

6:00am Tuesday 8th July 2008

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POPULAR former Worcester City player Paul Molloy has called for the club’s board of directors to step down.

Molloy, who played 124 times for the St George’s Lane club during the mid-1990s, says the only way for City to make progress is through a change of leadership.

“It’s time for the old regime to step down and let a new one take up the reins.”

Paul Molloy

The former Malvern Town manager, aged 39, has thrown his support behind the group of shareholders currently trying to seize control of the Blue Square South club.

Two unsuccessful attempts have been made by the consortium to call an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) and a third bid is planned within days.

On each occasion, the group have been told by the existing board they do not have the backing of 10 per cent of the shareholders, which is a legal requirement to force an EGM.

But Molloy reckons the quest for an EGM will eventually be successful and that the current directors should walk away now.

He said: “It’s time for the old regime to step down and let a new one take up the reins.

“The old regime did a great job nearly 20 years ago or so but it is time to let a new, younger and enthusiastic board take over.

“They are grabbing at straws by keeping on rejecting the inevitable EGM. The board needs to step down with grace and not hold Worcester City back any longer.”

Molloy has welcomed the move for director Simon Williams, co-opted to the board last month, to head up a commercial committee with the aim of generating funds for the cash-strapped club.

However, he feels the decision is long overdue and could have been prompted by the increased activity of the rebel group and their concerns over the state of City’s finances.

“Mr Williams heading up a new commercial committee is too little too late with the club around £1million in debt,” Molloy said.

“I wonder if the new consortium hadn’t have arisen, would there be a new commercial committee? We need an injection of youth and enthusiasm with the experience of the older directors.”

Following the rejection of last week’s second EGM bid, City chairman Dave Boddy said the club intended to stage an annual general meeting in September for shareholders to have their say.

In the build-up to that, they will also hold a fans’ meeting to outline their plans for the club and details are expected this week.