DAVE Boddy has resigned as chairman of Worcester City Football Club and been replaced by Anthony Hampson.

Mr Hampson arrives at St George’s Lane as a former chairman of Hereford and Worcester Business Link, vice-chairman of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce and chairman of the English Symphony Orchestra.

The 56-year-old, a keen sportsman who plays both cricket and hockey, is confident about both the club’s future and proposed stadium move to Nunnery Way.

He said: “As a past supporter and sponsor of the club, I am delighted to be given the opportunity to assist in what I see as a great challenge, and that is to deliver the vision that WCFC existing board members have worked so hard to put in place.

“The future of the club is ours and in very challenging circumstances we all need to work closely together to achieve the dream.”

Outgoing chief Mr Boddy said: “I am delighted that we have managed to attract such a highly talented and respected group of people to take the club forward. It is without doubt the strongest board of directors that we have had and supporters and shareholders should be filled with confidence about the future direction of the club.”

Mr Hampson added: “I am not a footballer but I am passionate about sport and I am passionate about Worcester and Worcestershire.

“I want to put my full support, together with the new board and the exisitng board members, to make sure that the stadium actually becomes a reality.”

Mr Hampson was elected at a board meeting this week after being co-opted as a director along with city solicitor David Hallmark and county businessman Jim Panter. The trio join businessman Simon Williams and chartered accountant Alistair Hayward-Wright, both co-opted in recent weeks, on a new-look board of directors ahead of the annual general meeting on Saturday, November 28 at 6.30pm.

At that meeting, Mr Boddy, who had been in the post since October 2003, will stand for re-election with existing directors Laurie Brown, Jon Prescott and Tony Partridge.

Former City director Keith Stokes-Smith and magistrate Cliff Slade will also stand. Mr Prescott, Mr Brown and Mr Partridge, though, are due to retire as directors on January 31, 2009.

However, the five representatives of the rebel Shareholders Action Group (SAG) have also been included on the shareholders’ voting sheet, raising the possibility of a board made up of rival factions.

An extraordinary general meeting, which was called by SAG, is also due to be held at County Hall on November 28, but two hours later.

Full press conference:

Dave Boddy interview:

Anthony Hampson interview:

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