FOOTBALL: Banbury manager Stein in the dark (From Bicester Advertiser)

FOOTBALL: Banbury manager Stein in the dark

9:30am Thursday 31st January 2013 in Sport By Nick Farrant, Sports reporter specialising in Non League Football. Call me on 01865 425488

BANBURY United manager Edwin Stein has expressed his surprise after it was revealed that the club’s chairman, Jed McCrory, is heading a consortium attempting a takeover at npower League One outfit Swindon Town.

And the Oxford Mail can reveal that McCrory may have to relinquish control of the Evo-Stik Southern League Premier Division club if his consortium’s bid is successful.

Under Football League rules, no individual can have control of more than one club, without the prior written consent of the board.

However, McCrory may be allowed to hold board positions at both until the end of the season, under special dispensation, provided they will not meet in FA competitions, which they won’t.

Stein said: “To be honest, I was unaware of it (the takeover bid).

“We have started to turn this club around and as far as I am concerned, we want to continue to do that.

“We talk all the time and we have spoken at length about the developments we want to see at the club in terms of encouraging more fans to come down here.

“And there’s all the work we are doing with the under 18 side, the ladies team, the young kids and the disabled.

“As far as I know, Jed is here for the long term and I haven’t heard anything that would suggest that was not the case.”

He added: “My focus is on the playing side at the club, which is a hard enough job on its own.

“We’ve got lots of competition for places and everyone is playing with a smile.

“It was just by chance that I got the oppportunity to manage this club and I am so pleased and happy to be involved at Banbury.”