Bridlington Town chairman Peter Smurthwaite has asked for more respect from the Evo Stik and says he won’t be bullied over fixtures
Bridlington Town owner and chairman Peter Smurthwaite has launched a scathing attack on the Evo Stik League after his club’s home game with Parkgate was postponed.
Last week the Evo Stik arranged for Brid’s tenants Scarborough Athletic to host Ossett Town in a Division One North fixture for this coming Saturday – but neither the league or Scarborough told Brid about the switch.
Mr Smurthwaite only found out about the fixture change on Sunday after receiving a text message and has to be “treated more respectfully”.
Because Brid have already played Parkgate away from home, the fixture cannot be reversed.
In a candid statement, Mr Smurthwaite said: “The most annoying aspect of this change is the total lack of respect shown to me personally and my football club. No prior discussion had taken place with ourselves or even with the Northern Counties East League with regard to cancelling our fixture which had been scheduled since the start of the season.
“We did not even receive notification from Scarborough Athletic, even though they had been informed last Thursday of the change, they did not contact us until Sunday and so far as I can see have not made much of an attempt to convince the Evo Stik League not to proceed with this fixture.
“I cannot believe the Evo Stik League did not have the courtesy to speak to us or our league.
“My worry is does this set a precedent for future fixtures when I am told who can play on my ground and when.
“I have already given way this season on our chosen midweek night, which we requested Tuesdays to our league, but I was then asked to move the midweek games to Wednesday to help both the Evo Stik and the NCEL arrange fixtures.
“I was not happy about it because my players train on a Thursday evening at a pre-booked venue which cannot be cancelled.
“In view of the above, I now need to assess with the ground-sharing arrangement unless there is a more regulated approach to the fixture arrangements.
“I have already had problems with our own league drawing up a sensible schedule of fixtures rather than eight out of 10 fixtures at home in October, which we did amend, but now this throws the fixtures into disarray again.
“This situation is also very unfair on our opponents this weekend, Parkgate, who may now have to travel to us on a midweek night and indeed have complained about the very short notice of the cancellation of the game.
“I have also heard comments in the recent past ‘if it was not for the money I receive from Scarborough, Bridlington Town would have gone bankrupt’.
“I can assure everyone of that opinion that my personal financial support and my business acumen have kept this club going, which was in a difficult position when I took over, but has no financial problems at present.
“For that reason I should not be bullied over fixture changes and be treated more respectfully.”