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Mike Parker Statement in Full

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Mike Parker, was appointed to the Board of Grimsby Town FC in November 2009. He was then elected as vice chairman last summer when he invested £500,000 into the club.

The outgoing vice chairman has issued a statement to explain the reasons behind his shock resignation from the club’s Board.

Parker’s statement reads :

‘There is not the appetite for change at board level which I had hoped for and been led to believe existed.
‘The board discussed the position of John Fenty as chairman. Again, I supported the board in backing John to continue as chairman.
‘However, for some time I have been pressing for other changes to be made in the club’s board structure and believed that these changes had been agreed, but they were voted down by a board majority at the meeting.
‘During this discussion I felt that my personal motives were being questioned, which I find unacceptable.
‘Whilst the board has a membership of five, and decisions are taken by the board on the basis of ‘one man one vote’, rather than financial commitment to the club, then I believe that it will be very difficult for any meaningful changes to be implemented.
‘It is for this reason that I have tendered my resignation’.

It is sad news for the club that Parker has had to take this action, but it is clear that some members of the Board are able to enjoy the same voting rights as Fenty and Parker – but without having made anything like the same financial input to the club.

In keeping with the good and genuine person that he is, Parker does not intend to withdraw his investments from the club.
On the contrary, the lifelong Mariners supporter has even offered to plough in a similar injection of cash to the club.

Referring to the finacial implications of his resignation, Parker added :

‘Previously I have committed to the club that I would share the funding of predicted losses going forward. As I am determined that my resignation will not threaten the club’s finances, I will honour that commitment.
‘With this in mind, and in the absence of any other board-sourced funding, I have proposed to John that I purchase additional shares, likely to take my shareholding to £1m.
‘Clearly I will remain a substantial shareholder in the club and I will continue to work in its best interests. At this stage, I see this being best done from outside the boardroom, rather than within it’.

Parker summed himself up with one final sentence :

‘As a lifelong fan I will always have the best interests of the club at heart and hope for every success in the future.’

We look forward to seeing you back where you rightly belong, and the sooner the better for GTFC.

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