ROTHES FC HOPE to have put their troubles behind them after a meeting last night formed a new club board in the wake of threatened court action and ultimate closure.
Last week local businessman Richard Forsyth stepped in to pay a £20,000 tax liability on the eve of the Highland League club making an appearance at Elgin Sheriff Court facing a winding-up order.
Following the intervention of Mr Forsyth – the owner of Forsyth’s Fabrications which has its base in the town – an emergency general meeting was held last night. From that emerged a new management board and a declaration that Rothes FC would not be able to concentrate on football.
Mr Forsyth, who had previously made it clear he had no real interest in running a football club, was appointed as honorary president of the club – with his son, also Richard and a former player at Rothes, installed as Treasurer.
Club chairman is to be Iain Paul while Brian Cameron has become vice-chairman, with the existing club secretary Andrew Simpson retaining his position at the club.
The new chairman took time out to acknowledge Mr Forsyth and his son saying that “if it were not for their timely interjection we would not have a football club”. Mr Paul added: “This is one of the proudest days of my life – our focus has to be to move forward and I would urge everyone to stop speaking about the past.”
Promising a new approach for Rothes fans, he said that the new committee would be “open and honest at all times – no secrets”.
Mr Forsyth told the meeting that it was clear to him that nobody in the town wanted to see the club go down. He said: “That was good enough for me. Forsyths will put in a substantial loan to give the club some breathing space and get it back up and running.”