DAVID BEATTIE has asked Partick Thistle supporters to trust him that the proposed takeover by NewCity Capital is in the best interests of the club, as he revealed the deal could be completed in as little as “three or four weeks”.
The Thistle chairman was speaking publicly for the first time regarding details of the takeover proposal as he unveiled the club’s new management team yesterday, with Ian McCall replacing Gary Caldwell as manager and former Thistle boss Alan Archibald and Neil Scally joining the club as joint assistant managers.
Beattie used the occasion to allay fears from fans over the future of the club, and to pledge that Firhill would remain Thistle’s home just days after celebrating the 110th anniversary of the Jags playing in Maryhill.
“There is absolutely no truth to reports of somebody buying the stadium or Partick Thistle moving elsewhere,” Beattie said. “It’s just nonsense.
“I understand that the less I say the more than can add fuel to the fire but there is absolutely no truth in it.
“Firhill is very much part of the consortium’s plans. If anything, they want to extend it if their plans come to fruition.
“There has been a lot of press, but I have said very little about anything because until I had something concrete and factual to say I think it’s better to say nothing. The problem with doing that is it creates a void and people dive into that.
“Normally what happens with these situations it’s not public until it is done, like the Hibs takeover. This became public far too early in the process because all that does is create unrest.
“What I can tell the fans is that the board of directors and the shareholders only have one thing on our agenda - what is the best for Partick Thistle. It’s not a monetary thing, it’s not about ego. It’s purely about doing what is best for the club.
“If that is the consortium - which I believe it is just now - then fantastic, and if it’s not the consortium then we’ll find another route.
“They came to us with a vision and finances to back that vision up and the shareholders unanimously believe it’s the right way forward.
“I’d ask the fans to trust us. We are not going to do anything to the detriment of the club.
“The easiest thing for shareholders to do would be to say the club is up for sale and give it to the highest bidder. But none of these shareholders who invested in the club ever believed they would get money back. That’s not what drives them, what does drive us is taking the club forward.
“The consortium put the dual interest letter into the SFA and they have rightly come back with some more questions. We will answer those in the next week and then the SFA will have a board meeting on it.
“The other thing you have to consider is that the English league will have a view on it as well. But hopefully we’ll have an end to the process within three or four weeks.”
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