Shrewsbury Town 'extremely disappointed' as MP Daniel Kawczynski backs plan without consultation
Shrewsbury Town have expressed their "extreme disappointment" after MP Daniel Kawczynski signed a letter which backs the resumption of the League One season.
The letter, submitted this morning by Damian Collins MP to the Government, Football Association and English Football League, contains proposals of a six-point financial plan to help clubs survive the financial perils of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mr Kawczynski is one of around a dozen MPs to add their name to the letter, which also stated the need for the current seasons above League Two to be completed – something the club are firmly against.
And Town have confirmed they had no prior consultation with the Conservative MP before he gave his support to the letter.
The club added their disappointment that Kawczynski was unaware of the stance given the open letter to fans published by chief executive Brian Caldwell last week.
A statement says: "Shrewsbury Town FC would like to clarify that at no point has Daniel Kawczynski contacted the club asking to sign this letter on our behalf.
"We are extremely disappointed that this letter has been published without any prior consultation.
"We believe that our local MP should already be aware of the club’s stance given our open letter that was published only last week."
The statement reiterates Shrewsbury's stance on voting to conclude the League One season, citing health risks and 'financial suicide'.
It adds: "We would also like to reiterate our stance that we do not wish to continue the remainder of the season.
"First and foremost we have a duty of care as an employer to look after the health of our employees and we do not feel it is right to put them at risk by returning to training and playing at this critical time. We also believe it would be financial suicide to continue."
The MP's letter outlines a six-point "rescue package" to "save professional football in this country as we know it", warning the Covid-19 pandemic has "badly exposed weak financial positions" of EFL clubs.
The plan, in the long-term, would allow supporters and communities the opportunity to acquire stakes in clubs who have required bailout from a new Football Finance Authority (FFA).
The draft proposes the new authority is launched by the FA but funded by the Government.
Money would be provided by the FFA to provide clubs in need with enough "breathing space" but could not be used for player recruitment or adding infrastructure.
The funds would come in exchange for minority shareholding of between 10 and 49 per cent depending on each club's situation.
