In a surprise twist to the Barrow saga, their Chairman says that they are hoping to play in the Unibond Premier League next season, i.e. one level below the Conference.

Interviewed on Radio Cumbria, Brian Keen said: "The current position is that our advisors and the liquidator have been in deep negotiations with both the FA and the Conference league etc, and we now have come to the conclusion ... that we would accept relegation from Conference and hopefully be placed in the Unibond Premier league."

A formal announcement is expected early next week. In the meantime, Mr Keen said that he would be talking to Shane Westley, with a view to him continuing to manage the club.

To put matters straight!!

I suddenly find out via Chris Kelly's letter that I was apparently responsible for Match Sponsorship!!!(or the lack of it!!)..This is certainly news to me as I made it clear from the outset this was not an area in which I could help. This can also be verified by other Board members, who, likewise, could not assist in this area. A rather pathetic attempt to further mislead people/fans as to why I am on my way out!!

As for Chris's reply........I am glad he has seen fit to use the web sight as, up to this point, he has been totally negative about its existence and has made that clear privately and in the overflow boardroom...the bar!!

Chris's reply justifies a response (ho hum...sorry...don't wish to turn this into a long running epic, but at least you are hearing from a Board Member other than me) because it is so inaccurate, petty and dangerous...the inference that I am a liar cannot go unanswered!!

However, Chris is paid for by the Club and can type away to his hearts content, whereas I am responding in my own time whilst trying to earn a living: I receive no remuneration from the Club. So, when time allows (probably in the early hours of the morning) I will answer the points raised in full.

It is a shame Chris responded in the manner in which he did....I was very careful not personalise my statement, allowing it to come across as factual and general..Chris's reply however, changes matters, it has become personal, it did not need to be that way. Sad really, Chris only had to keep his head down, I am going anyway..he has enough snipers out there ready to take aim, why antagonise me?..he must know I will react.

I do not wish to leave the Club feeling that I :-
1....have not answered my critics at least to my own satisfaction and
2....have left the impression that I had exhausted my input to the Club

Anyway...gotta pay some bills...have a good day K-men & women........watch this space!! I promise to try and type with a straight face when answering that damming tome that reveals my appalling track record at the club.

Mike Smith

I read with interest the recent letter from Mike Smith regarding his present position. I was somewhat amazed that despite his position he continues with the same line that the Board have had to endure during his two years with the club.

Mike Smith was invited to join the Board with a view to enhancing the entertainment side of the club both at functions and on match days. For those of you who have attended home matches, other than the cheerleaders, which were brought in by Paul Cox and sponsored by his company there has been no input there. Over the past twelve months the club has staged twelve entertainment evenings, of which Mike has attended none and in most cases was unaware that they were in fact taking place. These examples are only the tip of the iceberg in trying to give an understanding of why the decision to ask Mike to resign was taken.

With regard to a tiny group controlling the club, up until this situation arose Mike was a member of that so called tiny group, and had his contribution to the club been as sincere as it now appears the present situation would never have arisen. The point regarding substantial backers is something that is taken with a pinch of salt when one considers that in two years Mike has been unable to find one match sponsor, these claims are pure fiction. Whilst I have no doubt that he could find persons to verify these claims now when there is no risk of having to actually put up the money. Presumably they were going to do this, as favour to Mike, rather than for Kingstonian. That I think answers many of Mikes points.

There will be a new share issue and the rules that apply to these shares will be exactly the same as they are at present. The Board needs people who can work tirelessly on behalf of the club, not people who use it as a vehicle for their own egos.

If Mike had attended as regularly as others he would have been better informed than he appears to be. It is a shame that we find ourselves in this situation, the alternative is to let someone ride along on the coat tails of the others whilst contributing nothing to the success that has been achieved.

One final point which is worth commenting on is the reference made at the recent meeting (which was not an EGM, again Mike did not know that he was attending) that of a "united Board". The Board is united in its passion and desire for the club to go forward and if Mike is a casualty of this, then that is unfortunate.

Chris Kelly.

To K Fans....written WITHOUT PREJUDICE

I respond, via this site, to letters, phone calls and personal approaches made to me over the last week. May I state I did not instigate this situation but felt that a considered response was necessary.

It is a sad day for the K's, not because of my personal position, that is insignificant within the bigger picture, but because it reinforces the position of a tiny group who, in my opinion, control the Club. Indeed the recent public exclamation at an open EGM of a "united Board" has proven to be cosmetic in hindsight...I was asked to resign a week before!! As a Member of the Board, it is no secret that I personally had in place new, substantial shareholders, awaiting the Rights Issue, people who would broaden the Clubs powerbase and add much needed financial imput. This, I felt, would insure all our dreams for the K's could be realised. It follows therefore that the availability of funds and expertise would assist the Club to be run more efficiently and profitably...THESE SUBSTANTIAL BACKERS WILL NOW BE LOST!! Third parties have suggested to me that an influx of new shareholders would dilute the current control of the Board, hence the move to "dispense with my services"....I make no comment. I now await with interest to see if a Rights Issue is announced (as promised) and, if it is, what rules and controls are put in place by the current Board for prospective new shareholders to adhere to.

In answer to another point made, the personal slurs behind my back by certain individuals are known to me, I ignore such "bar talk" as par for the course, childish and unprofessional...I need say no more. On the question of idle chat, many decisions seem to be made in bars before they are put to a full Board as a fait accompli.

I accept that I will be "ousted" on 25th June, I have no doubt that a majority of proxy votes are already in place, it is just a formality. You can only carry on with majority support, I am truly disappointed as I believed my involvement long term with the Club would be in everyones interest...but I would say that wouldn't I.!!

In closing, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Geoff Chapple for his support to date, I believe that he and the team deserve much more experienced back-up than is currently on offer.

Mike Smith.....K's Fan....Director (only just!)