31 August 2012

Truro City file for Administration

Truro City football club is to file for administration . . . tomorrow's match at home to Boreham Wood WILL go ahead.

STATEMENT from Truro City chairman Chris Webb:

"Due to the club's continuing financial difficulties, it has been reluctantly decided that we have been left with no option but to place the club in administration, and I confirm that this process is to begin immediately.

"After their training session and meeting last night, the first team players informed us that unless the club took this course of action they would not turn out for the Boreham match tomorrow, in view of the non-payment of their wages for August and the continuing uncertainty over the club's future funding.

"Our clear understanding at present is that arrangements which were agreed earlier for funding to cover the players' wages through to at least September 15 no longer hold good. 

Obviously, this is an extremely difficult time for the club, but I can assure everyone concerned - players, supporters and staff - that I and my colleagues are working tirelessly to ensure that every possible effort is being made towards securing the survival and long-term success of the club."

30 August 2012

Former football club chairman made bankrupt

Source: This is Cornwall LINK

THE MAVERICK businessman who brought unprecedented success to Truro's football club has been made bankrupt at the hands of his former solicitors.

Kevin Heaney stood down as chairman of Truro City Football Club (TCFC) as he was declared bankrupt at Truro County Court on Friday.

The property developer who led the club to a record five promotions in six seasons and victory in the FA Vase at Wembley previously featured on the Sunday Times Rich List.

But in recent months lawyers representing TCFC have repeatedly appeared in London's High Court over claims for outstanding taxes from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

In June Mr Heaney disputed a £645,000 High Court claim against the club from Threemilestone-based legal firm Follett Stock.

It is thought the claim may stem from an agreement in June 2009 whereby Tiger Commercial (Truro) Ltd was licensed to use the Truro City name and 3,500-capacity ground at Treyew Road.

Chris Lingard, managing partner at Follett Stock, is a director of Tiger Commercial (Truro) Ltd and previously represented Mr Heaney.

A spokesman for the Official Receiver confirmed Follett Stock LLP was the petitioner in the bankruptcy hearing.

Mr Heaney would have been presented with a petition for bankruptcy on August 1 and given 23 days to contest it.

He will now have to explain the causes for his bankruptcy to the Official Receiver in Plymouth. At that meeting he must also list all creditors that he is aware of.

As revealed by the West Briton, the club and the ground was sold last month to Jojo Investco Ltd for £2.28 million.

A covenant is believed to require a suitable space be provided for the club to continue if the ground is developed.

Mr Heaney has not been available for comment for several weeks. A statement cited "illness" as his reason for resigning as chairman.

Mr Lingard, a spectator at Treyew Road on Saturday, said: "Speaking both personally and for Follett Stock, I would happily agree to write off sums due from the club itself if that could be brought about.

"I also believe a group of businesspeople might be prepared to pledge an amount of money each year to help meet the running costs with the balance being met by sponsorship and the gate receipts.

"In that way stability could be achieved and the continuous lurch from one crisis to another avoided."

City's future in doubt as assistant calls for answers

Source This is Cornwall LINK

JUST what is happening at Truro City and does the club have a future?

That is the question that fans, players and the management are asking after the latest developments to rock the Treyew Road club.

Friday's resignation of Kevin Heaney as chairman because of illness and the subsequent news that he had been made bankrupt has left the club in limbo.

Chris Webb has moved up from vice-chairman to chairman, while it has also been revealed that chief executive Mark Woolcock resigned after the midweek match against Havant and Waterlooville.

He said: "I was supposed to be given the day to day running of the club, but alas that is still not entirely possible at the moment. Lets see what the near future brings. Under the right circumstances I would love to come back, but a few things need to be sorted first."

City's long suffering squad are due to be paid by tomorrow but it is unclear whether that will happen sparking fears the players, who are all at the club on a non-contract basis, could quit.

If that happens it will throw the club, which has resembled a soap opera in recent times, into total turmoil.
Salisbury City chairman William-Harrison Hall, whose CGA company has been paying the players, was at Saturday's game, but it is not known whether that will continue to happen after the Conference launched an investigation into a possible conflict of interest.

All everyone with the best interests of the club at heart wants is some stability.

And that was a view strongly endorsed by City's assistant manager Dave Newton after Saturday's match.
He said: "All we want is some stability and to know exactly where we stand. We don't know where we are. We just want someone to come in front of us and tell us what's happening.

"We have no money and there is a big doubt whether we are going to be paid this week and if that happens we have a problem.

"Off the pitch we are in dire straits and we need someone to come in and help us out.

"I think there are people who want to get involved in the club. If we can get the feel good factor back the fans will come back in their numbers. Let's run Truro as a proper football club because it is not being done so at the moment.

"The players and Hodgey (City boss Lee Hodges) have been fantastic. But with the transfer embargo, he is fighting with one hand tied behind his back. Barry Hayles wanted to stay but he was allowed to go and I don't know why. We need players of that experience at this level of football.

"We need leadership from the board room and if get things right we can give this league a real go."

28 August 2012

City Alerts - Lee's view on Weston Super Mare

LEE'S VIEW on Weston-Super-Mare 0 Truro City 2
Lee before the Weston game
"It was an unbelievable performance and result. I can't thank the players and the staff enough. It was very much bare bones stuff, with a squad of just 13 and several players out injured, and the second hard game in just three days, again in poor conditions. Yet the boys just kept their really good form going and picked up their first win and clean sheet.

"It was no more than they deserved and really pleasing because they had done enough in the previous three games to earn more than just two points. Once again, it was a case of really hard work from a tight little squad, but they put all the off-the-field stuff to one side and just worked so hard.

They gave absolutely everything they've got for the cause, and I'm so proud of them. They're doing everything right at the moment, and the young lads who have come in are stepping right up to the mark. It was outstanding.

"We settled into the game very quickly and we seemed to cause Weston more problems than they did for us. We played some lovely stuff; we broke very quickly in good areas, showing that the best form of defence is attack. Our defenders did well and our strikers delivered once again. Kieffer got his second in two games and Yetsi got his first of the season to seal it.

INJURY UPDATES:

ANDY WATKINS (groin): never in contention for yesterday, monitoring this week.
JAKE ASH (concussion from Saturday's match): still not good yesterday morning, so did not travel, but expected to be okay for Saturday.
LEE: "It was a strange one (at Weston). It was just before half-time and one of their players accidently trod on my foot. It ripped my boot off and left me with a little bit of a gash in my foot, but I carried on for the rest of the match and I'll be okay for Saturday."

Mike Truscott.

2012/13 Season Home Kit

Below are a couple images taken at the Salisbury City match, showing the new retro home kit.


City earn first league win of the season

By Rhod Mitchell

Weston-super-Mare 0 Truro City 2

City, who travelled with just 13 fit players, turned in a terrific performance in the rain at the Woodspring Stadium today to earn their first Blue Square Bet South win of the season.
Yetts scored his 217th goal for City

Goals either side of half time by Kieffer Moore and Stewart Yetton were enough to give City a priceless three points after two successive 1-1 home draws.

Moore scored for the second time in three days when he headed home a free-kick from player-manager Lee Hodges just after the half hour mark and Yetton netted his first of the season after the break when he got his head on a cross from Les Afful.

City's defence then dug deep to keep a clean sheet and secure their much needed first victory of the season.

Hodges was without skipper Jake Ash (concussion) and striker Andy Watkins (groin) and came into the starting line-up himself along with Yetton.

On the bench were just Calron Hall and Danny Carne with City unable to add to their named squad of 16 because of their transfer embargo.

But they shrugged off their off the field situation to earn the win and will be hoping to build on that success when they entertain high-flying Boreham Wood on Saturday (3pm).

Weston Super Mare v Truro City images from the game

Weston Super Mare 0 - 2 Truro City Images by Steve Rogers

Lee Hodges celebrates with double thumbs up

Kieffer Moore's low header to score the first goal

Yetti attempt just went wide

Adam Kelly climbs high - had a superb game on right wing

Kieffer Moore uses his 6'5" frame

Les Afful - TruroFans man of the match

Yetti was in a commanding role - awesome on form.


Yetts taking the match to a Weston defender

26 August 2012

Truro fans new 6 a side team

To any Truro City fan old and new, young or ancient, who is interested in further social gatherings and laughs,we are entering a six a side team into the Monday night league at the astro turf pitch at Richard Lander school. Times of games are between 7.30 and 9.30. Matches last for 30 minutes with 3 roll on roll off subs. Players need to be 15 years and older. Don't worry how fit or unfit you are, we ain't aiming to win the national league. Its another avenue that us fans can get together and represent everything that's good about us Truro City fans. If you are interested, please see Dave Grimshaw, Lee Grimshaw, Danny Humphrys, Simon Birch or Brian Thompson. The more the merrier, so please feel free to put your names down. Or you can mail Dave Grimshaw at dgrimuk@yahoo.co.uk. The league starts 3rd September. Mathc fees are 23 quid per team. Cheaper then going to the gym.

Truro City v Salisbury City match report

Ryan Brett’s second half-equaliser kept Salisbury City’s unbeaten run going in the pouring rain at Treyew Road, writes Joel Holt, Salisbury City.

Kieffer Moore put the home side ahead with an early tap-in, but his strike was cancelled out by Brett’s equaliser in the 66th minute.

On a slippery surface and in a strong wind on the bank-holiday weekend, it was the hosts who broke the deadlock.

Truro, who recently lost their chairman and are struggling financially, raced into a seven minute lead after Moore stuck home Dan Green’s cross from two-yards out.

But the visitors, in their colorful yellow and blue away strip – should have replied soon after, as Brian Dutton’s glancing header was blocked by Tim Sandercombe.

Another chance went begging as Chris McPhee played the ball into the path of Jamie White who steered his attempt inches wide.

The Whites should have then been punished for some sloppy defending minutes before the break.

Firstly, Moore drove an effort straight into the body of Willem Puddy, and then a lob from Andy Watkins, nearly found its way into the bottom corner.

Straight into the second-period the visitors brightened up. Substitute Theo Lewis teed up White, who at full-stretch pointed his header slightly wide.

Salisbury pushed men forward in search of a response and it finally arrived on the 66th minute.

McPhee whipped in a cross, which White attacked from Dan Fitchett’s knock-down and that forced a low save from Sandercombe, but he could not prevent Brett from smashing home the rebound in front of the travelling supporters.

The visitors pressured the Truro goal again, this time White fired a header wide.



A controversial decision in the closing stages could have changed the overall outcome. White was clipped inside the area by Lee Hodges, but was denied a strong penalty claim.

And aside from Brett’s late effort sailing over the bar, both sides had to settle for a point.

Boss Darrell Clarke said: “I thought the game was there for the taking and that’s why I’m a little bit disappointed and frustrated.”

“The quality at times and decision making was a little bit poor, yet we still created enough decent chances to win the game.

“Fair play to the boys, its their third game in a week, and got seven points out of nine, so I can’t be too harsh on them.”

City shrug off financial worries to end leaders' 100 % record

Article by Rhod Mitchell, West BritonLINK

Truro City 1 Salisbury City 1

Truro City's players again showed their remarkable ability to put the club's continuing off the field financial problems behind them as they secured a well deserved point against a Salisbury side who started the day top of the Blue Square Bet South table after two straight wins.

The very future of the Cornish club is still massively uncertain after it was revealed on Friday that Kevin Heaney had stepped down as Truro chairman.

A club statement cited "illness" but it was later disclosed that he had been declared bankrupt at Truro County Court.

But the players refused to let that affect their performance and were good value for their second point of the season, following the 3-3 midweek draw against Havant & Waterlooville.

City manager Lee Hodges named an unchanged side and Truro got off to a just the start they wanted when young striker Kieffer Moore got his first goal for the club, as he got on the end of Dan Green's cross from the right to slide the ball past Willem Puddy in the visitors' goal.

At the other end Tim Sandercombe then did well to keep out Brian Dutton's header.

However, Truro continued to create chances, with Puddy denying Adam Kelly a goal against his former club after great work by Les Afful.

City suffered a blow midway through the half when they lost influential skipper Jake Ash with concussion with City boss Lee Hodges coming on in central defence for his first appearance of the season.

James White was just wide for Salisbury, while right on half time Andy Watkins almost doubled Truro's advantage but his lob went the wrong side of the post with Puddy stranded.

In the second half it was backs against the wall stuff for Truro as the visitors piled forward in search of an equaliser.

And City's resistance finally cracked after 66 minutes when Ryan Brett followed up to score, after Sandercombe could only parry White's shot into his path.

With man of the match Arran Pugh leading the way at the back, Truro then held firm and might even have snatched their first win of the season when substitute Stewart Yetton, who made his 300th appearance for the club in midweek, headed just wide from Moore's cross.

It was a point well earned though and City will be hoping to get that elusive first win at bottom club Weston-super-Mare on Monday (3pm) and then hope to hear some good news about the club's future.

Truro City: Sandercombe; Green, Pugh, Ash (capt) (Hodges 28), Williams; Kelly, Broad, Cooke, Afful; Watkins (Yetton 57), Moore (Carne 88).
Subs (not used): Hall.

Yellow cards: Kelly, Yetton.

Salisbury City: Puddy; Udoji, Matthews (Lewis half-time), Dutton, J Clark, Brett; McPhee, Sinclair, Hart, Fitchett, White.

Subs (not used): M Clark, Baggridge, Hough, Scott.

Yellow cards: Hart, Udoji Sinclair.
Goals: Moore (7) 1-0, Brett (66) 1-1.
Referee: Richard Hulme (Radstock).
Crowd: 336.
Man of the match: Arran Pugh (Truro City)

Kevin Heaney's Bankruptcy Raises More Questions Than It Answers

Article posted on the popular 200% web site.  Original link HERE

After everything, it was a simple tweet from BBC Cornwall that confirmed the end of Kevin Heaney's ownership of Truro City FC, but even this grand finale wasn’t what many people had expected. After all the talk of winding up orders from creditors, investment groups that didn’t wish their identity to be made public, threats from unpaid players to walk away from the Blue Square Bet South club and talk regarding Heaney's health, this morning the owner of the club and former suitor of Plymouth Argyle was declared bankrupt. Yet whilst this wasn’t, in some respects, that surprising, it did add another twist to a story that has frequently bordered upon becoming impenetrable over the last few months or so.

Heaney had always seemed keen to paint himself as the white knight on a charger, and it’s fair to say that Truro City would probably not be playing football at the level at which the club finds itself today without having benefited from his largesse. For a couple of years, it felt as if The Dream – such as it was – might come true and that a Football League club for Cornwall, playing at a grand new stadium shared with the Cornish Pirates rugby club, might actually come to pass. As Truro City has creaked and groaned over the last year or so, though, this has started to recede somewhat and events at the club have taken a different, more troubling turn. A familiar narrative has started to play out, one of anonymous investors who are rumoured to be sinking money into the club, one of tax bills and disputes over tax bills, one of players going unpaid, and one of everything that is going wrong apparently being the fault of somebody else – a very twenty-first century reaction to a very twenty-first century set of financial problems.

Heaney's bankruptcy, however, could have ramifications for the club. The last published set of accounts for the club showed that it owed him £1.4m and the insolvency practitioner dealing with his affairs may wish to look closely at whether Heaneys creditors can be paid from the football clubs assets. One asset which is of considerably lower value now than it was is the clubs Treyew Road ground, which had been mortgaged through Lloyds and was bought in June by a company called Jojo Investco, a London-based company owned by a solicitor, Alan Bracher, earlier on this summer. It has been suggested that Bracher is the front for the anonymous investors that have been expressing an interest in the club over the last few months, but how their involvement in the club will play out over the course of time is not a question that is easily answered.

Meanwhile, Heaney's resignation from the board of directors of Truro City – being declared bankrupt, of course, means that quite asides from anything else he becomes one of the few football club owners or directors that actually fails the Football Associations Fit & Proper Persons Test – has led to his replacement by former vice-chairman Chris Webb, but it is not Webb that put the money into the club recently in order to allow it to keep trading. The identity of that individual became earlier this week, and it was something of a surprise to find out that it was CGA Holdings, a company owned by William Harrison-Allen, the chairman of Blue Square Bet South rivals Salisbury City, who put this money into the club. Harrison-Allen, who describes Heaney as “a mate”, has claimed that:

CGA Holdings paid the wages last week. I wanted to make sure the players got their money and that was done with Kevin Heaney’s agreement. We are not investing in TCFC. It’s a property deal that will help Kevin Heaney make sure that TCFC keeps going – it will secure the future of TCFC. I can reassure the fans that if this goes through it secures TCFC and its ground for the foreseeable future. Kevin Heaney is a mate of mine. He needs somebody on his side. He is a bit of a colourful character. He has put his heart and soul into getting TCFC where it is.

Whether the games authorities regard the direct involvement of the chairman of one club in the financial affairs of another in the same division, however, is not one that is necessarily easy to answer, and the Football Conferences seemingly perennially put-upon general manager Dennis Strudwick has already confirmed that, “I’m investigating the question of whether there is a conflict of interest” under Section Five of the Football Conference Ltd FA Standardised Membership Rules. For the avoidance of doubt, Section Five relates to holding an interest in two clubs at the same time, and it reads as follows:

Except with the prior written consent of the board no person, company or business institution (including insolvency practitioners) may at any time be interested in more than one club or in a club and any other club playing in a competition sanctioned by the FA.

What sanctions the club might face as a result of any sanctions from either the Football Conference or the Football Association are unknown at present, but “interested” in this context may be defined as anybody that “is involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of that club”, who “has any power whatsoever to influence the financial, commercial or business affairs or the management or administration of that club” or who “has lent money to or guaranteed the debts or obligations of that club”. Whether Salisbury City – who, of course, have had their own financial difficulties in recent times – Truro City or even both clubs might end up in hot water over this matter is unknown, at present.

If there is one set of supporters that is probably breathing a sigh of relief this morning, then it’s probably those of Plymouth Argyle. Heaney had been the preferred bidder to buy their club when it had been in serious financial difficulty last year, but failed to come up with the money required to complete the take-over of the club, which was subsequently taken over by another businessman, James Brent. Plymouth continue to exist in a slightly emaciated – but now at least stable – state, but one of the great “what if” questions that their supporters may be asking this morning could be that of what might have happened to their club had Heaney managed to secure the take-over of Argyle and subsequently found himself bankrupt. As things stand, however, they can look on at the situation at Truro and think “there but for the grace of God go I.”

The bankruptcy of Kevin Heaney, then, raises at least as many questions as it answers, but Truro supporters will at least perhaps take a moment to wish him well with whatever financial and health difficulties he may be having at the moment. He did, after all, do much to take the club to the level at which it plays now. It should be added, however, that getting a football club to this level is easy by pouring money into it, as we have seen elsewhere in recent years. Keeping it at that level without dragging it into greater and greater debt, however, is a different matter. After the discharge of his bankruptcy, he may well seek to get involved in the game again. If his health problems are serious, however, he may just choose not to. Whatever his decision, the legacy of his involvement in Truro City is that this is a club whose future remains very much up the air even though he will not be there to oversee it himself. It doesn’t feel like a legacy to be particularly proud of.

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24 August 2012

City Alerts - Heaney steps down as Chairman

Due to illness, Kevin Heaney has stepped down as chairman of Truro City and will no longer be involved in the day-to-day running of the club. He is succeeded as chairman with immediate effect by Chris Webb, previously vice-chairman and involved with the club as player and official for over 30 years.

Mike Truscott, City Alerts

Truro City club and ground sold for £2.25m

Source: West Briton, via This is Cornwall LINK

THE Cornish Guardian's sister paper the West Briton can reveal in a separate development that the football club and the ground has been sold for more than £2.25 million.

Records from the Land Registry show that Truro City Football Club and ground were purchased by Jojo Investco Ltd.

The purchase price of the club and ground was listed as £2,280,000.

Jojo Investco Ltd was registered as a private company on June 7.

The company has one shareholder – Alan Bracher – who has a registered address in central London.
The West Briton tried to contact Mr Bracher to find out what the consequences of the deal would be for Truro City FC but he did not return calls or respond to e-mails.

Nobody from Truro City was available for comment.

City Alerts - Salisbury City match update

TEAM NEWS for tomorrow's home league match against Salisbury City, 3pm.

CODY COOKE fit again after dislocating finger against Havant & Waterlooville. LEE HODGES has made himself 16th member of squad and hopefully cleared in time by League for tomorrow.

UPDATES:

STEVE ADAMS resumed training last night and hopefully match action with reserves soon after some more training sessions.

BEN ADLESBURY: good movement and target still two weeks.

MARCUS MARTIN ill with impetigo. Highly contagious so will not be present tomorrow!

LEE: "I believe the boys have done absolutely brilliantly in their first two games and it's incredibly frustrating that we've only got the one point out of it. We should be on top of the league with six points rather than just one.

We have just got to cut out our silly little errors and then, even with all our present difficulties, we will still win more games than we lose. I just ask our supporters to be patient and to recognise that everyone is pulling their weight and working their hearts out for the club. Salisbury is another big game and as always strong vocal support can make a big difference."

NEXT FIXTURES: Monday, August 27, Weston-Super-Mare, away, 3 pm; Saturday, September 1, Boreham Wood, home, 3 pm.

Mike Truscott.

23 August 2012

Conflict of interest in tale of two cities

Source: This is Cornwall LINK HERE

AN INVESTIGATION has been launched into a potential "conflict of interest" involving the man expected to be the financial saviour of Truro City Football Club.

Kevin Heaney was unavailable for comment.

The West Briton, the Cornish Guardian's sister paper, revealed last week that Truro City players were paid by CGA Holdings, owned by William Harrison-Allan, chairman of Salisbury City.

Now the boss of the Conference League has confirmed he has launched an investigation into a potential conflict of interest in Mr Harrison-Allan's involvement with Truro City.

Truro City and Salisbury City both play in the Blue Square Bet South league of the Football Conference and are due to meet this Saturday at Treyew Road.

Dennis Strudwick, general manager of the Football Conference, said: "I'm investigating the question of whether there is a conflict of interest."

Mr Strudwick would not say anything further about the investigation at this point but said rule five would be the relevant section of the Football Conference Ltd FA Standardised Membership Rules.

Rule five states: "Except with the prior written consent of the board no person, company or business institution (including insolvency practitioners) may at any time be interested in more than one club or in a club and any other club playing in a competition sanctioned by the FA."

The definition of "interested", taken from the rules of the FA Cup, include a person who "is involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management or administration of that club" or who "has any power whatsoever to influence the financial, commercial or business affairs or the management or administration of that club" or who "has lent money to or guaranteed the debts or obligations of that club".

Mr Harrison-Allan said previously that the last round of Truro City players' wages were paid by his company CGA Holdings after players threatened to quit the club. Mr Harrison-Allan said the payments were made to help his "mate" Kevin Heaney, chairman of Truro City, and had nothing to do with Salisbury City.

When contacted about the potential conflict of interest this week Mr Harrison-Allan refused to comment and hung up. Nobody from Truro City was available for comment.

22 August 2012

Richard Augarde's images from the Havant game

Visit this LINK HERE to see a decent selection of images from the Havant game.

Stewart Yetton presented with 300 Appearances Trophy

Vice Chairman Chris Webb presented Stewart Yetton with a trophy to mark his 300th appearance.  Yetts also holds the club record of 72 goals in one season.  A fantastic achievement and one to be proud of.


Truro City denied win by stoppage time equaliser

By Rhod Mitchell This is Cornwall.  Images Steve Rogers.

Truro City 3 Havant and Waterlooville 3

CITY opened up their Blue Square account with their first point of the season on Tuesday evening, but it should have been so much more.
Watto celebrates his first goal with team mates (in the new kit)
The home side twice established seemingly match-winning two goal leads, only to surrender them on both occasions with the Hampshire side grabbing a stoppage time equaliser.

It all looked so good for City just after half time as Andy Watkins scored his second goal of the game to make it 2-0.

In the first half the striker, making his first start of the season after missing City's 2-1 defeat at Billericay Town with a groin strain, had put the Cornish club ahead after 17 minutes with a fine solo goal as he cut in from the left before netting with a low drive into the bottom left corner.

For much of the opening half City were relatively comfortable, though the Hawks were unlucky just on half time when midfielder Steve Ramsey rattled the underside of the bar with home keeper Tim Sandercombe beaten.

City began the second half in the best possible fashion with Watkins taking advantage of a loose ball to find the far corner from a tight angle.

However, City then shot themselves in the foot when a terrible defensive misunderstanding between Sandercombe and Arran Pugh presented Oliver Palmer with an open goal which he gratefully accepted.

City though bounced back almost immediately with Jake Ash converting a penalty with just over 20 minutes left to make it 3-1 after Les Afful had been brought down by Chris Arthur.

Stewart Yetton then came on for his 300th appearance for the club to replace the tiring Watkins and immediately conceded a harsh looking free-kick on the edge of the area. Christian Nanetti's strike deflected off the top of the City wall and into the net via the underside of the bar.

Truro still looked to be hanging on to priceless win until the first minute of stoppage time when Palmer scored his second of the evening, heading powerfully home from a corner.

The result sees City 14th in the table ahead of Saturday's visit of leaders Salisbury City who have the only 100 per cent record in the league after two straight wins.

CITY: Sandercombe; Green, Ash (capt), Pugh, Williams; Watkins (Yetton 70), Broad, Kelly, Afful, Moore, Cooke. Subs (not used): Carne, Hall.
Booked: Sandercombe.

HAVANT AND WATERLOOVILLE: Masters: Newton, Arthur, Hutchinson, Harris, Page (capt), Ramsey (Taggert 75), Bailey, Jones (Moss 58), Palmer, Nanetti. Subs (not used): Pearce, Whyte, Hinshelwood.

Booked: Arthur, Palmer, Moss.

Goals: Watkins (17) 1-0; Watkins (49) 2-0; Palmer (62) 2-1; Ash (67 p) 3-1; Nanetti (71) 3-2; Palmer (90+ 1) 3-3.

Crowd: 390.

21 August 2012

Adelsbury faces absence with ankle injury

Article by Rhod Mitchell

Truro City are set to be without new midfielder Ben Adelsbury for tonight's Blue Square Bet South home opener against Havant & Waterlooville at Treyew Road.

The former Swansea City and Plymouth Argyle playmaker suffered a knee injury during City's 2-1 opening-day defeat at Billericay Town.

Player-manager Lee Hodges said: "Ben caught his studs as he turned and you could see it hurt. I am anticipating he will be out for at least two weeks, maybe longer. We will have to see how the knee settles down and then take it from there."

Hodges – who completes a two-match suspension along with assistant manager Dave Newton after tonight's game – is hoping that experienced forwards Andy Watkins (groin) and Stewart Yetton (hamstring) will pass fit for selection.

The Truro boss said: "I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Watto and Yettsy pass fit because we were down to bare bones last Saturday.

"It was frustrating on Saturday because, had they been in the team, I think they would have made a big difference."

Hodges still praised the front men he used in Essex. He said: "Les Afful was outstanding. He created numerous chances and really showed what he's all about, and should have come away with a goal.

"Kieffer Moore did a great job up front on his debut, got into some great positions but also missed some chances. It is to be expected because, this is his first taste of football at this level. He's raw but got a lot going for him and I think the fans will really take to him.

"Although we lost on Saturday, it was definitely a game we should – and could – have won. It was one of those games when you know you are going to regret not coming away with at least a point. That was the least we deserved.

"It was also a game where I looked around the field and, although we made some defensive errors and missed some golden opportunites, I could not fault anyone for their effort".

20 August 2012

City Alerts - Lee's view

LEE'S VIEW on Billericay   2   Truro City   1

"I was really pleased with the way the boys performed and the result was desperately disappointing.  We deserved at least a point and really should have won; we created so many excellent chances.  It was a cagy game to start with, but we grew in confidence and did ever so well in such stifling conditions.  It was really hot, with the temperature well into the 80s, and we were sweating just watching it from the shade.

"We changed our shape for the second half to make it a bit more positive.  Again, we dominated the game but could not take our chances.  Keiffer Moore could have had a hat-trick.  He and Les Afful were outstanding up front.  I felt really sorry for the boys.  To walk away with nothing from that game was a travesty of justice.

"To make matters even worse, Ben Adlesbury's injury came at just the wrong time, in the closing minutes.  It took away our momentum.  There was a break of around five minutes and then of course Billericay went and scored at the death." 

TEAM NEWS for tomorrow's first home League match of the new season, 7.45 pm, v Havant & Waterlooville.    Late fitness checks on ANDY WATKINS (groin) and STEWART YETTON (hamstring), but hopeful that Watkins at least will be okay to play. 

LEE HODGES suspended.  BEN ADLESBURY (knee) expected out for at least two weeks.  Lee:  "We all feared ligaments at first, but he was walking around after the match and had good movement, which was great.  We are just hoping it will settle down now and possibly be back after two weeks."

Miek Truscott

19 August 2012

The Only Way Is Billericay

After all the soap opera comings and goings at Truro City during the close season, it was nice to get back to football on the pitch.
Picture by Simon Birch

First game of the season......Billericay away. Another long trip to the land of orange tans, false boobs and hairdresser cars. ESSEX. A mirror image of the previous season when we was sent to Chelmsford City for the first game of the season.

With news that many players were out injured,including Stewart Yetton, Andy Watkins, Marcus Martin, Steve Adams and Martin Watts.  Lee Hodges suspended, players embargo still in place, news trickled through that Truro City would field no more than 13 players for the seasons opener.

Team line up, T.Sandercombe, D.Green, B.Williams, A.Pugh, C.Cooke, J.Ash, A.Kelly, L.Afful, B.Adelsbury, K.Moore, J.Broad. Subs D.Carne and D.Hall.

On a very hot sunny day with temperatures in the 30s, it was never going to be a classic. As per expected, the opening minutes became a cagey affair. It was like watching two boxers weighing each other up, finding their oppositions weak points, whilst floating around the pitch, finding space to express their natural talent to break down the defence.

The home side took the lead after 21 minutes through a deep corner that Truro City was unable to keep out. Glenn Poole crossed the ball in for centre half, Chris Wild to head past Tim Sandercombe. The home crowd went wild.

With this Truro City piled the pressure on. Young Keiffer Moore should have equalised for Truro City after the home keeper, miss kicked, which gifted Keiffer a clean cut chance only to see his shot rebound of the post. Both teams continued to attack, like boxers, with jabs followed by a hook whilst defending valiantly.

Half time arrived for a welcome rest bite for the players, away from the sweltering heat of the English summer.
With home and away fans exchanging chants, Truro City equalised only minutes after the restart. Little Les Afful crossed a peach of a ball into the Billericay Town area, with scorer of the first goal Chris Wild having a mare, sliding the ball past his own keeper under pressure from Kieffer Moore. 1 - 1. Truro fans went wild like Truro fans do. Things started to look up again.

With an off the ball incident involving our very own superman, Jake Ash, Billericays Jay May was shown the red card for an early bath, much to the displeasure of the home fans but delight of the away fans. Truro City used their extra man with intent and piled on the pressure. Cody Cooke blasted the ball over the bar. Kieffer Moore having a fair amount of chances that would have given the away team the lead and victory assured.

Truro City looked to tire as the game progressed. Lee Hodges only admitting days ago that his team were at least three weeks behind in their fitness due to problems of the pitch recently. Billericay had the advantage to bring on fresh legs to battle for a result against the draining heat.

With a share of the points looking increasingly likely, Billericay Towns Nathan Green ran down the left wing to deliver a ball into Truro Citys area for Sam Lechmere to turn into Truro Citys goal. With only minutes left, the full three points went to the home side, leaving the away fans wondering whether the result would have been different had the earlier Truro Citys chances been taken.

The first game of a very long season. Victory should have been Truro Citys but I'm sure we will gain full points in another game that we won't deserve.

A special note must be made of the home fans. What an incredibly friendly bunch. A community club that involve their fans. The ex club chairman, who reigned whilst Billericay Town won three FA Vase trophies from 1975 to 1979, his sons and the chairman of the supporters club treated us away fans to some refreshments for our long journey home to Cornwall. A brilliant insight also of how a football club is run by an ex chairman. I could have stayed there all day listening.

Poor result but top marks to Billericay Town and everyone involved in the club. We was made to feel very welcome and part of their special day. One day, we may have that feeling at our own football club.

Yours, the Latte Lad.    

Truro City denied deserved point by last gasp goal

By Rhod Mitchell LINK

Billericay Town 2 Truro City 1
After all their off the field problems during the summer, Truro City were denied a morale boosting opening day Blue Square Bet South point at league newcomers Billericay when the Essex side scored a last gasp winner despite being down to ten men.

It was tough on the Cornish visitors, who travelled with just 13 players and looked to have done enough to take at least a point from the game playe din swwltering heat.

But it was the home side who took the lead after 21 minutes when poor marking allowed Chris Wild to head home from close range from a corner.

City though kept in the game and drew level early in the second half when Wild, under pressure from debutant Keiffer Moore, put through his own net.

And it got better for Truro when Billericay had Sam May red carded for an off the ball incident with City skipper Jake Ash, with more than half an hour of the game to go.

However, Truro were unable to take advantage  of their numerical superiority and in the final minute slack defensive play by City allowed Sam Lechmere to net from close range at the far post to deny City even a point to take back on the long road home to Cornwall.

And it all left City boss Lee Hodges a very disappointed man.

He said: "I thought we dominated the game but were not clinical enough in front of goal and defensively we must improve.

"But I could not fault the boys for the effort they put in. A point would have been brilliant but we have got to pick ourselves up for Tuesday."

City start their home campaign against Havant & Waterlooville on Tuesday (7.45pm).

City: Sandercombe; Green; Williams, Pugh, Cooke, Ash Kelly, Afful, Adelsbury (Carne 87), Moore, Broad. Subs: Carne, Hall.

Billericay match review, as seen by the Billericay Recorder

By James Colasanti LINK

Billericay 2, Truro City 1

BILLERICAY showed the battling spirit which made them champions last season as they scored a late goal to claim a debut win in the Conference South, despite playing the majority of the second half with only 10 men.

It was a tale of two contrasting halves for the Ryman Premier champions as they held a lead at the interval but then had to keep the visitors at bay as they pushed forward in search of a winner following home striker Jay May’s 55th minute dismissal.

It was the only card brandished in the game and it was a straight red for use of the elbow.

At that stage it was 1-1 and Truro looked to make their man advantage count.

But the hosts stood firm and we rewarded with an 88th minute winner from winger Sam Lechmere.

It came when the increasingly impressive Nathan Green crossed from the left and the former Braintree man smashed home a sweet volley, much to the delight of the majority of the 401-crowd packed into New Lodge.
It had looked like it would be a far more straight forward afternoon for Billericay when Chris Wild headed them into a 21st minute lead.

The centre back headed home after the ball was headed back across goal by Truro’s Jake Ash, following a corner from Glenn Poole.

The game started to open up after the goal and Alex Osbourne had a golden opportunity to double the lead when he was put through by May, but his control let him down when in on goal.

At the other end a miskick from keeper Jake Larkins gifted Keiffer Moore a chance, but he shot against the post with the goal at his mercy.

Then Les Afful came close to levelling the match right on the stroke of half-time, but Town held their lead at the break.

The second half was only minutes old when Truro drew level and Wild was again involved as he turned the ball past his own keeper after Afful’s cross caused panic in the home defence.

Things got even worse for Town when May was sent off for a clash with Ash, and minutes later Cody Cooke blazed over with the entire goal in front of him as Town’s back four went missing. And just as it seemed the game would end in a draw, Green escaped down the left and delivered a deep cross that was turned in by Lechmere.

Town could have even added a third but substitute striker Tunde Adenwunmi shot wide of advancing keeper Tim Sandercombe and the post after nicking the ball from a defender and running in on goal.

Echo MOM: Nathan Green (Billericay).

Billericay - some images from the game

Images by Brian Thompson


One for the road - a gift from the Billericay Chairman

TISA boys on tour - always here

Add caption

17 August 2012

City Alerts - Squad news for Billericay

The 2012-13 season gets under way tomorrow with City away to League new boys Billericay Town.  Player-manager Lee Hodges has named this squad of 12 and possibly 13.

TIM SANDERCOMBE, DAN GREEN, JAKE ASH, JOE BROAD, BEN ADELSBURY, ADAM KELLY, CODY COOKE, ARRAN PUGH, LES AFFUL, KIEFFER MOORE, BEN WILLIAMS, DANNY CARNE

CALRONE HALL (City reserve team player) agreed to sign last night, but this is still subject to League approval.

Lee agreed two loan signings from Plymouth Argyle this week, but overruled by League as these are contract players and under the terms of the continuing transfer embargo only non-contract players can be signed.

ANDY WATKINS (groin) and STEWART YETTON (hamstring) both out for tomorrow - "not 100 per cent yet and don't want to risk them ahead of such a heavy fixture schedule."

LEE himself is suspended for two matches, starting tomorrow.

LONG-TERM INJURY updates:  MARCUS MARTIN, STEVE ADAMS and MARTIN WATTS all in training and progressing well.  Marcus and Steve "possibly four to six weeks."  Lee on Martin:  "Don't want to put a date on it because he's been out for such a long time.  We're talking months rather than weeks."  (NB:  none of these players is yet signed up as part of the squad, which is limited to 16 while transfer embargo continues.)

TWO HOME MATCHES next week, against Havant & Waterlooville on Tuesday, August 21, kick-off 7.45 pm, and Salisbury City on Saturday, August 25, kick-off 3 pm.

Mike Truscott, City Alerts

16 August 2012

Ask Kevin!

The intention is clear

With the announcement today that the Salisbury City chairman is now linked with Truro City, for the first time in writing, we hear what everyone (except Mountaineer) has been thinking:

Quote from William Harrison-Allan excerpt from BBC web site today:

"The whole thing is to secure Truro City Football Club and it's ground for a long time to come.

"He (Kevin Heaney) wants to make sure Truro City won't go down the drain after all his hard work," William Harrison-Allan added.

And he says the long term aim is to try and resurrect plans for a stadium for Cornwall so the club can eventually sell Treyew Road.

Salisbury City chairman in Truro City ground deal

Source BBC Sport Salisbury LINK

Salisbury City chairman William Harrison-Allan has been revealed as the businessman behind a deal to keep Truro City afloat.

Harrison-Allan's CGA Holdings company is hoping to go into partnership with City chairman Kevin Heaney.

They want to buy Treyew Road from a firm run by Heaney's lawyers.

The deal has been approved by the Football Conference as Harrison-Allan will not be involved in the running of the football side of Truro City.

Truro City are currently facing a winding-up petition for unpaid taxes from HM Revenue and Customs at the High Court, but Harrison-Allen says he will ensure that the club's debts are paid.

"It's taken quite a long time to get to where we are and at the same time unfortunately Kevin's come under immense pressure with the creditors at Truro," Harrison-Allan told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"I've helped him through CGA with monies to pay off previous HMRC winding-up orders, he's got another one in September which we'll sort out for him, and the players are up to date with wages and the PAYE will be up to date at the end of August."

Harrison-Allen says his motivation for the deal is to help out Heaney, who he says is a friend who is going through a difficult time both in business and with his health.

"Sometimes people need a helping hand and that's what we did.

"The whole thing is to secure Truro City Football Club and it's ground for a long time to come.

"He (Kevin Heaney) wants to make sure Truro City won't go down the drain after all his hard work," Harrison-Allan added.

And he says the long term aim is to try and resurrect plans for a stadium for Cornwall so the club can eventually sell Treyew Road.

Earlier this year Cornwall Council voted against plans to help fund a stadium at Threemilestone which would have housed Truro City and Cornish Pirates rugby team.

"If they could join forces, following the land deal, with Cornish Pirates and Truro College and do what was proposed originally, which was a brand new stadium, then that would be even better.

"You'd have even greater facilities for everybody in Truro and Cornwall," Harrison-Allan said.

Salisbury City chairman is Truro's saviour

Source Western Morning News  LINK

After another turbulent week in the history of the club, the identity of the man who intends to save Truro City Football Club has been revealed.

Truro have been in crisis with unpaid players threatening to leave, continuing High Court battles over alleged unpaid debts and rumours rife surrounding the future of chairman, Kevin Heaney.

But this week William Harrison-Allan, chairman of rivals Salisbury City FC, confirmed his company, CGA Holdings, paid the players' wages and is working on a deal to secure the club's future.

Harrison-Allan made it clear the deal was nothing to do with Salisbury City. He described Mr Heaney as "a mate" and said the deal being developed should reassure fans.

He said: "CGA Holdings paid the wages last week. I wanted to make sure the players got their money and that was done with Kevin Heaney's agreement."

Harrison-Allan said details of the property deal that would save TCFC were still being worked out but he hoped to be able to clarify the situation soon.

He has been credited with rescuing Salisbury City from a £500,000 annual loss.

He said: "We are not investing in TCFC. It's a property deal that will help Kevin Heaney make sure that TCFC keeps going – it will secure the future of TCFC.

"I can reassure the fans that if this goes through it secures TCFC and its ground for the foreseeable future."

Harrison-Allan said Heaney, who has not been available for comment in recent weeks, was suffering from health problems. He said: "Kevin is not well at the moment and the stress of this is not helping him."

Harrison-Allan paid tribute to the property developer, who has overseen Truro's success in gaining five promotions in six years and a victory in the FA Vase.

He said: "Kevin Heaney is a mate of mine. He needs somebody on his side. He is a bit of a colourful character. He has put his heart and soul into getting TCFC where it is."

Companies House records showed Heaney's appointment as a director of TCFC ended on August 3. New chief executive Mark Woolcock was appointed, removed and reappointed to its board since the beginning of July.

With their wages paid, it seems the squad will remain, reliant on suitable assurances for the rest of the season.

City intend to travel up tomorrow for their opening Blue Square Premier League game against Billericay, who are making their bow at this level after winning the Ryman League's premier division.

Calmer times ahead for City?

Source: This is Cornwall LINK

AFTER a torrid summer off the field, it will be something of a minor miracle if Truro City manager Lee Hodges is able to take a competitive squad to Billericay Town on Saturday for their opening Blue Square South game of the season.

At the end of last week, it seemed as if City would have to depend on reserve players for the game in Essex, after the financially-troubled club failed to meet the players' deadline for their owed wages to be paid.

But in a dramatic 11th hour development on Friday, cheques from Salisbury City chairman William-Harrison-Allan's company, CGA Holdings, arrived to pay the players and manager Lee Hodges.

And now as a result, the squad will remain, providing suitable assurances for the rest of the season are forthcoming and all the signs seem to be positive.

The exception is striker Barry Hayles, who has signed for Southern League premier division outfit St Albans City.

Gutted

The veteran played 66 games for City over two seasons, scoring 28 goals, but was unable to agree terms to remain with the club and is said to be "gutted" as to how things have turned out.

Definitely out for Saturday, are the injured trio of Marcus Martin, Steve Adams and long-term absentee Martin Watts.

Striker Stewart Yetton may also have to wait a week or two to make his 300th City appearance because of a hamstring problem, though he did take part in a training game at Treyew Road on Tuesday evening.

There was also a minor scare when Andy Watkins had to go off with a groin problem, but it is hoped he will be fit for the trip to Essex. Player-manager also Lee Hodges serves the first of a two match ban on Saturday, and he will then miss Tuesday night's home game against Havant & Waterlooville.

Martin Gritton looks highly unlikely to play for the club this season, mainly because of work commitments, while Barry McConnell and last season's top scorer Scott Walker joined Weymouth in the summer.

It has hardly been the ideal pre-season preparation for manager Hodges who has spent the summer desperately battling to keep the squad together. Because of their off the field problems, City have played just three friendlies – the last against Falmouth Town on July 28.

And Hodges admitted his squad were probably "two to three weeks" behind where he would have liked them to be at this stage of the season.

Speaking after Tuesday's practice match he said: "I think we were a bit rusty. It was a good work out and exactly what we needed."

With the club still under a transfer embargo, they can only sign 16 players, one of whom will be big young striker Kieffer Moore who has impressed in pre-season.

Hodges said: "Newts (City assistant manager Dave Newton) has done brilliantly in finding him. He is raw and has plenty to learn but he will cause teams problems."

And if all goes to plan, Hodges is hoping to also boost his squad with a couple of loan players from Plymouth Argyle in time for Saturday's match.

But he is under no illusions as to how difficult it is going to be for City to stay in the league for a second successive season, after finishing 14th in the last campaign.

He said: "The boys' minds have been elsewhere and it is now a case of trying to get them motivated and ready for Saturday.

"We are trying to focus on the game and the aim is to have a team who can compete in this league. It has been a hell of a pre-season and if at end of April we are all still here and in this league it will be some achievement."

City intend to travel up tomorrow for the game against Billericay, who are making their bow at this level after winning the Ryman League's premier division last season.

15 August 2012

Lee Hodges wants to make more signings

Source: BBC Radio Cornwall

Truro City boss Lee Hodges says he is hopeful of making more additions to his squad as they prepare for the start of the new Blue Square Bet South season.

City have signed Falmouth's Dan Green, left-back Ben Williams and former South Devon League player Kieffer Moore.

The club have seen Barry Hayles leave the club while a deal to pay the players their outstanding wages was only agreed at the weekend.

"I don't think my squad's where I want it to be at the moment," Hodges said.

"I'd still like to add one or two towards that but I know the money's tight and I've got to get on with what I've got and I have no problems with that.

"We've got a tight-knit squad and the aim is to just focus on putting a team out, preparing right for every game and having no other worries," Hodges added to BBC Radio Cornwall.

13 August 2012

Barry Hayles confirmed signing for St Albans

Barry has confirmed that he will be signing for St Albans tomorrow.  Yet another sad loss for Truro City.  One can only guess why he's moved on.  TruroFans wishes Barrington all the best in the autumn of his career.  Here are some highlight images to cherish of a class act:











10 August 2012

Truro City players set to train after receiving wages

Source This is Cornwall

Club captain Jake Ash confirmed to thisiscornwall.co.uk on Friday afternoon that Truro City's players have been paid by the club, writes Rhod Mitchell.

In the latest twist to the crisis at Treyew Road, Ash said: "We are pleased with the news and hopefully the club will be able to field a full strength team for the first league match of the season at Billericay on Saturday week."

Truro's players had given a week's notice, which ran out on Thursday at 10 am, that they would be unavailable for selection unless they received overdue wages.

But Ash confirmed that cheques were received by the players on Friday morning, had been banked, and that the squad planned to train tomorrow.

It is understood that new investment may have been attracted to the club, securing the immediate future of Truro City, but Ash underlined that the players would be seeking assurances about future wage payments before the league season kicks off.

09 August 2012

City fail to meet the 10am deadline

Striker Andy Watkins was interviewed today by the BBC and reports that the Club have failed to meet the deadline of 10am to pay the players.

On Thursday last week while training at Tregye, Truro, the players promised to quit if their wages were not in their bank accounts by 10am today.

 "We have heard nothing from the club. It looks as though that will be it for me," Watkins told BBC Radio Cornwall.

"We said, as of today, we would leave if we didn't get the money we are owed." 

Watto said afterwards on his Twitter account, "I don't want to leave City - but it looks as if I must".

Needless to say, no information has been forthcoming from the Club in what seems to be a normal stance of sticking one's head in the sand.  The players are still of course, under contract and the Club is presumably holding out until next Friday when a decision either way will have to be made.