Former Leeds United chairman Bill Fotherby is the new director of football at Ossett Town
Former Leeds United and Harrogate Town chairman Bill Fotherby is back in football as the new director of football at Ossett Town and he insists his new club can “go places”.
The appointment reunites him with Ossett manager John Reed as the pair worked together at Harrogate between 2000 and 2005.
Ossett hope Fotherby’s arrival will help them fulfil their short and long term ambitions which are to attract investment into the club, team and facilities.
Fotherby, who was a director of Leeds for over 20 years, has been out of football since leaving Harrogate in 2011 after selling his shares to Irving Weaver.
Fotherby said: “Ossett Town is a well-established and respected non-league football club and I am thrilled and excited to be involved.
“I have been looking to get back involved in football for a little while and have spoken with a number of clubs, but none felt quite right.
“I have spent the last week talking with the Chairman (James Rogers) and Vice Chairman (Lee Broadbent) and have been impressed by their professionalism, commitment and vision for the future.
“I can see a real opportunity to take this club forward and with their youth and my experience I really do think we can go places.
“I have also worked with John Reed before and would say he is the best man manager and motivator I have ever worked with in football – Ossett Town have made a real coup in appointing John and I think this club has the key ingredients for success.”
Under Fotherby who was the managing director, Leeds flourished as the Elland Road club rose from the old Second Division to become First Division champions inside the space of three years.
Fotherby was also instrumental in the building of the East Stand in the early 1990s before his exit in 1997 after the club was sold to Caspian PLC.
He resurfaced as the chief executive of Hunslet Hawks Rugby League club until returning to football in 2000 as the chairman of Harrogate.
Fotherby and Reed led the Wetherby Road side from the NPL Division One bottom reaches to the Conference North and Ossett chairman James Rogers added: “Bill Fotherby is a well-known and respected football professional and we are delighted that someone of Bill’s experience and calibre has accepted our invitation to come and work with us at Ossett Town AFC.
“We have a young ambitious committee and with the addition of Bill’s significant experience, knowledge and networks we are in a good place to achieve our vision for the future of Ossett Town football club.”