Gateshead FC shareholder Stephen Paylor has issued a rallying cry as the club searches for new investors, days after key director Mark Nellist resigned from his position. Nellist had been an influential figure in backing the Heed since taking charge in 2019.
The Tynesiders were relegated to the National League North, bouncing back by winning the title and then the FA Trophy at Wembley after back-to-back finals. However, Nellist raised concerns about the direction of his hometown club as he resigned last week, prompting serious questions about the Heed's funding going forward.
Unpaid wages and transfer embargo
Gateshead FC players and staff have not been paid their September wages, which were due on the final working day of the month, and held an emergency meeting to discuss their options before Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Worthing. Players could not be given any assurances about when they might be paid, only that the club were pressing on in trying to find a new investor.
The game went ahead despite the unpaid wages, with the club now also under a National League transfer embargo for the late payment. There were developments on Friday night with Paylor, who bought shares in the club earlier this year, appearing to take on the entirety of Nellist's controlling shares in the club.
Chronicle Live contacted the club for clarity, to see whether Paylor, who was confirmed as being part of the board back in May, ever joined the club in that position and whether he was now the majority owner. Chronicle Live received no response.
Paylor's statement
However, in a now-deleted post, Paylor moved to clarify the situation, claiming he is not a director at the Tynesiders, but has been helping the club search for investment following Nellist's resignation. In the post, Paylor commented: "I would like to strongly express my respect for Mark Nellist, for all that he has done. It was with sadness that I read his statement a few days ago and learned that he wanted to end his involvement in the club. Nobody has ever done more."
"I am not a director and have had little contact with anyone since May, when I informed the club that I was unable to contribute any further, but I do care and have agreed with Mark, subject to IFR (the Independent Football Regulator) to combine both his and my own shares in the hope that it will allow a more simple process with any new owner."
"Neither Mark or myself are asking for anything in return but for the club to succeed. I would ask everyone connected to the club in any way to set aside their grievances and work together."
"I have in the past 24 hours, worked with the club Chairman to try and establish the current situation and a plan. We have been in contact with several interested parties."
"Although it is hard in such a short space of time to determine the intent or legitimacy, we are trying. We have been as responsive as we can with no time to waste, such is the urgency."
"If Gateshead Football Club ends, then it isn't just the end of a football club. It reflects the breakdown of society. Working-class people and our local governments are loaded with debt owed to the rich, while the stock market makes billions for the few."
"Local leisure facilities and stadiums like the GIS (Gateshead International Stadium) used to be funded for the community benefit. People used to care about each other more."
"Society now has everyone so leveraged with debt we cannot afford the vital things that connect us with shared goals and strong values. Is this what Thatcher envisioned for the North East."
"High cost credit and the people turning on each other when times get tough. Extraction, offshoring, privatisation was simply the theft from a thousand generations of struggle. We need to work together. For a million years we have."
"There is a proposal to Gateshead Council for the club to return to Redheugh Park and to build a new stadium that will commercially put the club into the Football League and stand as a source of pride for generations in our area to show what is possible when people come together."
"The club has no debt or excessive liabilities and there is a plan to do something really special. I can help. but this isn't something I can do on my own. Please contact me if you can help save Gateshead Football Club. This is about much more that just football."
Cattermole's post-match criticism
The statement, which has now been deleted, was shared after an explosive post-match interview from under-fire boss Lee Cattermole, who accused individuals at the club of not wanting 'the team to move forward.' Speaking after the defeat to Worthing, he told the club website: "Everyone has to be united, this club is nowhere near that, nowhere near that. The club is nowhere near where it should be, it's been disappointing. Press goes out about the players' wages not being paid. That's disappointing, but it happens."
"But it goes from before that, well before that. We need to figure out who wants to be part of the new regime, or whatever you want to call it, and find out who wants to be part of it."
"If we do, we will get the club going because a club like Gateshead has been really competitive in certain spells and that is when everyone is united and everyone is together."
"I've been fully aware for the whole time I've been here, that isn't the case. I've been managing it, I've been dealing with it, I've been trying to put a positive spin on it and prepare the team."
"But ultimately, there are people in this building that don't want the team to move forward and I know that. I can feel it, I see it and the clearer that we can be, that's staff, players, fans, we might start winning games but it can't happen, it doesn't just happen."
"We are punching above our weight in this league, we are playing at home with a crowd that can make a noise. At the minute, they aren't with us, people in the club won't be with us and there's a bit of a crossover."
He continued: "There's been a lot of change and the moment we iron that out and get it going and get everyone aligned, so there's no hiding place. Because what happens when you have a struggled, you have people that want to move it forward and other people play hide and seek."
"That happens in every club up and down the country. I've been part of it, I'm now trying to lead it and I need every staff member on board so we can go forward. If they are not, the players can feel it, staff members feel it and once we do iron it out, we might have a chance of winning some games."
It's the latest twist in a disappointing start to the season for Gateshead, who were riding a high after pulling off the 'Great Escape' under former head coach Rob Elliot. Cattermole's side have taken just four points from their opening 12 games and are rock bottom of the National League.
There's been significant upheaval since the summer, with players moved out in order for Cattermole to put his own stamp on proceedings. However, supporters were left shocked when news broke of players being put into a 'bomb squad.' A handful of stars were removed from the first-team group chat and forced to train away from the main group, before some of them were reintegrated before the defeat to Altrincham last week.
