Nairn County fans battle to keep Highland League club afloat
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NAIRN County fans have rallied to raise more than half of the £5000 target to help keep the Highland League club alive.
The future of the club was thrown into doubt on May 17, exactly 40 years on from winning its only HFL title, when chairman Peter Mackintosh stepped down along with Peter A and Michael Mackintosh, the men behind the long-standing main sponsor, Narden.
Last week, the league’s longest-serving manager Les Fridge also left his position at Station Park after 12 years at the club as the search continues for his successor.
The club, overall, is seeking a change, but most vitally a valuable cash injection.
Dedicated fans set up a fundraising page on gofundme.com and this week it has been edging towards the £3000 mark. Donations will be passed on to Nairn County if and when needed to ensure the 102-year-old club keeps running.
An emergency general meeting took place for shareholders on Tuesday night at the town’s Newton Hotel and last night (Wednesday), a fans’ meeting was set to be held at the Nairn British Legion to bring supporters up to speed with where the club stands.
Also yesterday, club secretary Donald Matheson yesterday took over as interim chairman and he delivered the news last week that the club had been boosted by "two significant contributions towards the cost of the new enclosure at the ground.
The state-of-the-art structure opened in March and now the Nairn County Supporters Ground Improvements Fund and Narden have both made payments towards footing the bill. In the case of Narden, this is in addition to the financial input they have already made.
He said: "This is massively positive news and a huge step forward for the club as it now puts us in a position to pay off the invoice to main contractor, Lovie Construction, which we received at the beginning of this week. That is fantastic given the situation the club now finds itself in.
"The fans have been absolutely magnificent in their support of this project and their contribution is monumental.
"On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to thank every single supporter who contributed to the Ground Improvements Fund and hope that you are all rightly proud of the contribution you made towards the construction of the enclosure that we now see at Station Park."
A special fundraising day of activities is also set for Saturday, June 25 at the town’s Riverside Park.
Following a noon community kids’ showcase, there will be a match between Nairn County and Rothes supporters at 1pm with these respective club legends playing a match at 3pm.
At the town’s Royal British legion at 7pm, former Scotland, Ross County and Aberdeen defender Brian Irvine will head up a question and answer session just before a raffle and auction.
*** FIVE new directors have been appointed at Station Park in the last week. Club spokesman Graeme Macleod is the latest to join the board, following Ian Finlayson, Alexander Macdonald, Gillian McWilliam and Shona Devine.
