"A very bittersweet moment" - Ashley Carson issues "final" update as Chesterfield FC takeover is set to be completed

The club is being sold to the Chesterfield FC Community Trust, which has secured loans of £500,000 from Derbyshire County Council and Chesterfield Borough Council for the deal.

In what he anticipates will be his ”final” update to supporters, the company secretary said all paperwork has now been signed by all parties and “it is now just a matter of the legal teams dotting the I's and crossing the T’s.”

“Obviously the final and most important milestone will be the financial transaction which we are hoping will now happen this week,” he said.

Mr Carson also said that upon the money being transferred, community trust chairman, Mike Goodwin, will be appointed as a director of CFC 2001 Limited and then chairman Mike Warner and director John Croot will resign.

Mr Carson will also resign and his role will be “immediately” filled by a representative from the trust.

“For me personally, this is a very bittersweet moment. I have enjoyed some fantastic times at the club and also some very challenging ones,” Mr Carson said.

“The staff at CFC are a committed, hardworking group of individuals who I will really miss working alongside and would really like to thank all of them for their energy and professionalism.

“All that’s left to say is that Dave (Allen) and I have worked hard to ensure that the club is back with the fans and debt-free to enable the new owners to get off to a good start.

“For clarification, the sale of the club does include all conferencing and banqueting, so Dave Allen will also relinquish all control over this side of the business.”

Mr Carson also revealed that community trust chairman, Mike Goodwin, has met with caretaker manager John Pemberton, which we understand went positive, and that “three players” will sign this week. These are likely to be Haydn Hollis, Tom Denton and Nathan Tyson.

All staff and players will remain on furlough until the takeover is completed.