TNS grant investigation: Club insists it has put £4 million into Oswestry economy
Bosses at football club The New Saints today insisted they have added £4 million to the local economy, after it was claimed they had failed to pay back an £80,000 grant.
The money, which was part of a legacy grant, was due to be paid back to Oswestry Town Council at a rate of £16,000 every year for five years.
Mr Wiseman, who was hired by private clients to look into the matter, presented his findings to the town council on Monday, and councillors have asked for Shropshire Council to look further into the claims.
The Saints, who used the grant to build extra seating to allow them to play European games, insisted they had met all their "deliverables and outputs" outlined in their grant agreement.
Economic benefit
The club has issued a further statement, stating they have met their outputs, and have also added £4 million into the local economy.
A spokesman for the club said: "In outlining the outputs and deliverables, the clubs Chief Operating Officer Ian Williams confirmed that the organisation is now giving employment opportunities to over 85 people either full, part time or contracted, to perform services to benefit the town of Oswestry.
"He added that the club has hosted a number of Uefa Champions League games since the grant was awarded with over 40,000 people attending these and other domestic games, bringing much-needed economic benefit to the town of Oswestry.
"Without such support, these games would have been lost to other towns such as Wrexham or Newtown with the estimated loss of spend in the town being in excess of £4 million.
"All of these events boost the local economy with local hotels, shops and public houses thriving with the additional revenue."
The statement from the club also adds that they have undertaken their charitable aims through the TNS foundation, and for ten years they have hosted recreational activities on a day to day basis, and will continue to do so into the future.
