Gosport Borough chairman denies financial crisis

Gosport Borough chairman Mark Hook has dismissed suggestions the club are in financial crisis.
Gosport Borough chairman Mark Hook, left, with manager Alex Pike   Picture: Paul JacobsGosport Borough chairman Mark Hook, left, with manager Alex Pike   Picture: Paul Jacobs
Gosport Borough chairman Mark Hook, left, with manager Alex Pike Picture: Paul Jacobs

But Hook confirmed the National League South side have failed to pay their players for the past two weeks.

The Privett Park side are currently embroiled in a play-off battle on the field but growing off-field concerns have cast doubt among supporters over the future of the club.

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With a tax bill still to be paid off, Borough are also under a transfer embargo, meaning they are unable to bring new players in to the fold.

And with a number of injuries to Alex Pike’s squad, this weekend’s clash with Oxford City could see Gosport struggle to field their full 16-man matchday quota.

Hook, though, has denied the squad are now free agents – despite social media claims by Borough midfielder Dan Wooden.

‘The players are certainly not free agents,’ he said.

‘They are a couple of weeks behind on their payments but that will be taken care of both today and on Monday.

‘We have talked to the players and they are fully aware.

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‘There may be one disgruntled player speaking out of turn because we have fully communicated with the players and they are fully aware of it.

‘We have told them what we are doing to put things in place and have given them a plan and they were happy.

‘I have to say I am disappointed this is the case because I haven’t had any contact with any of the players so for them to go around is disappointing.

‘There is no crisis at Gosport Borough.’

A spokesman from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) told The News they were unable to confirm the amount of tax owed to them by Gosport Borough.