Bath businesses are teaming up to back the Big Bath City Bid – the campaign to turn Bath City FC into a community-owned club.
Firms gathered in Queen Square on Tuesday to sign a pledge board and encourage others to back Bath City FC Supporters Society – which is spearheading the campaign – to reach its goal.
It has secured nearly 60% of the £300,000 target needed to allow it to take a majority stake in the loss-making club.
But the final whistle is approaching as it must hit the target by September 28.
Businesses represented at the signing included The House, Media Clash, Minuteman Press, Yum Yum Thai and Ignition Strategic Design. Bath Business News is also backing the bid and will be giving regular updates on its progress as the deadline draws nearer.
Lee Centromere of Yum Yum Thai said: “Bath needs a strong, forward-looking football club and community ownership is the best way for the club to progress.
“A strong club will bring many benefits to the city, and community ownership will also help develop the club and the Twerton Park ground as a community asset. We hope other businesses in Bath will join us in support of the Bid. Every share purchased helps push the bid towards the £300,000 goal.”
Ignition Strategic Design creative director Adam Lloyd-Smith added: “The Bath business community has a vital role to play in helping make community ownership of Bath City FC a reality. The business community in the city is very close and generous to good causes.
“We think the Big Bath City Bid is a fantastic cause worthy of our support and we will be watching closely as the Society moves in on its goal.”
Big Bath City Bid project co-ordinator and potential new Bath City chairman Nick Blofeld said: “We are delighted to see our corporate supporters being so vocal and positive in encouraging other businesses to support the Bid.
“If we can hit our target of £300,000 it will give the whole city a reason to celebrate. This is a campaign that brings the city together. The clock is ticking, but we are confident that with a final push from businesses and residents we can give the city the football club it deserves.”
Acquiring a majority stake in the club would allow the Supporters Society to form a new board of directors and achieve its long-held goal of transferring the National League South club into community ownership.
The Big Bath City Bid had hoped to raise £750,000 to buy out the club’s directors and take full ownership earlier this year. It received pledges and investments of more than £300,000 from over 600 people and businesses.
The Big Bath City Bid team held a public meeting at Twerton Park last night to give interested parties an opportunity to hear about the bid and to ask questions.
To get involved go to http://www.bathcitysociety.org/community-ownership.html
Pictured: Businesses came togethetr to pledge to back the bid in Queen Square
