I regret to have to inform everyone that despite continued efforts from me, new members of the NMC and several independents we have been unable to initiate any dialogue with BAFA at this time.

The source of the problem and issues is well documented in BAFA statements and the reports issued by BSAFA. I had hoped that with a newly elected NMC, the BAFA Board members would be able to see that the BSAFA membership did understand the situation and the importance of getting it resolved, but that they must engage directly with the membership and it’s democratically elected leadership team in order to do this.

The approximately 200 people in attendance at the BSAFA AGM will confirm the extensive, and entirely justified ‘grilling’ I took that covered the issues that need to be resolved and also confirm my absolute commitment to getting things right and resolving the problems.

On the morning of March 31st I received a recorded delivery with enclosures stating that the BAFA Board had called an EGM on April 21st with the soul purpose to remove the BSAFA representative from the Board. There was no explanation or reasoning enclosed. I was, and still am, deeply concerned by this action from both a failure to recognise the desires of the BSAFA membership to be fairly and democratically represented, and on a personal level in relation to the consequences of this action should it occur.

In the hope that I could break through the nine months of exclusion I sent one more, frank and personal, email directly to the BAFA chair. Copy below…

“Gary

Even though there was no representative from BAFA at our recent AGM I am sure you are aware that following extensive discussions and the public statement you issued I was re-elected through open democratic process as President of BSAFA.

Despite my reservations at the lack of response from BAFA and some of the actions over the past months, I remain as always committed to one governing body for the sport.

After the meeting we had a less formal discussion with many of the more interested and knowledgeable parties, on how best to move this situation forward. It was agreed that we would write again through your solicitors on behalf of the new NMC, making payment of what we could (even without an invoice or any commitment at this stage from BAFA) and in the hopes of having some sensible conversation to move things along in a productive fashion.

I have prepared this letter to send on Monday when the new NMC is in place formally.

Today I have received from Glen (itself a concern as I would have expected such documentation to come from the BAFA Chair), the notification of your intention to have an EGM to formally remove me as a director of BAFA!

Previously and again at our AGM it has been suggested that the action taken by BAFA has been a personal vendetta against me. You may not believe me, but I have hoped until now that this was not the case and that there were other reasons for the continued refusal to talk with me.

I would really love to be able to be brought up to speed on the actions of BAFA in recent months, the corporate governance, the WSP etc and work with you to resolve the financial shortcomings of BSAFA (something which I am certain will not happen again). To work to ensure everyone is treated fairly and with ‘equal opportunity’.

I am prepared to let bygones by bygones under the belief that everyone involved (on both sides) believed they were doing what was best for football and the nature of the game means that the egos and stubbornness needed to succeed can also be a hindrance at times.

If you wish to proceed down the current route and not pay any attention to democratic elections by trying to remove me from the game by other methods then I do not see how this can possibly be seen as anything other than a personal issue and can be of no benefit the sport as a whole for the future.

We have a new NMC in place and we can all go forward, but not if you continue to insist on creating divides. I ask you one last time to reconsider your current course of action and commit to the future of the sport!

Thank you” (end of email)

I had received no reply in four days so emailed again to request at least an acknowledgement that the email had been received.

After two days I received a short reply saying the email was received and that it would be discussed at the next BAFA meeting.

I requested to be informed of the date and location of the meeting as I should like to be able to attend as a current BAFA board member - to date I have had no reply.

Independently of this other NMC members have attempted to get a formal reply from BAFA and independent parties have also offered, with our consent, to mediate and or liaise on behalf of BSAFA, if BAFA refused to deal directly with the elected body.

It has also come to our attention that the SGA have been asked to resign from the BAFA board. Additionally we have feedback from the BAFL AGM which I can not comment directly on as I was not there – but if true is of grave concern in light of the current climate.

If these actions are allowed to occur in this manner it will effectively put control of all of British American Football in the hands of two or three individuals, having removed any alternate viewpoints from the situation.

Ironically it may well be that I, the NMC and the BSAFA membership may well agree with the way forward - but as we have not been privy to any of the workings of the last nine months and only have the BAFA website, the letters from the solicitor and the continued refusal of the BAFA board to answer direct questions or represent themselves publicly, we can not know this!

As I have stated in the email I sent to the BAFA chair I still believe that they have the belief they are doing the right thing, but to continue down this route is not the right way to deliver and can not be productive in the long term. It will only go to increase mistrust and suspicion in the BAFA process and remove more badly needed volunteers from British Football.

Having been giving no alternative, nor evidence of any desire from the BAFA board to resolve this matter amicably, at this stage I am having to resort to the communication method chosen by the BAFA board.

I am not demanding their head, nor dragging out historical events that would embarrass people. Nor am I suggesting that the Board members concerned are evil despots that should be removed.

What I, and the NMC, are requesting is that the BAFA board stop this aggressive legal action immediately and commit to working this problem out through negotiation and dialogue, for the good of the game.

I will publicly state here and now that if the best thing for the game is a restructure of the governance and this can be illustrated to us (all of us) then I will have no objection to resigning the directorship so long as the method and process for the election or placing of any future governance is fair and transparent.

Having had the privilege of being involved in youth, senior and college ball at many different levels I have no desire to see any development shackled by the stubbornness of anyone (myself included) but the wishes of the whole sport must be considered!

So anyone who has any influence on the BAFA board and cares about the future of the sport, please contact them and encourage a commitment to engage in the ‘wider audience’ and resolve this conflict. Help us see your vision for the future and let’s stop wasting all our time and resources on this destructive course right now!

For and on behalf of the NMC

Addendum:- just prior to this statement being published the two new members of the NMC received an invite to ‘an informal meeting’ with the BAFA Board. This meeting is scheduled for after the EGM to remove both BSAFA and the SGA directors from the BAFA structure.