Angry fans show red card to Poppies boss
Poppies fans have shown their club’s owner the red card in protest of his handling of the stricken club.
Up to 1,500 supporters held up red placards saying Show Imraan Ladak The Red Card and unfurled banners before Kettering Town’s game against Lincoln City at Nene Park on Saturday.
Mark Severn, chairman of the Kettering Town Supporters’ Trust, which organised the protest, said: “It’s down to Imraan’s conscience now. We are down to one man.
“He has always said he will do his best by the club. We thank him for the good times, but his time here could be up.”
The trust want Mr Ladak to sell the club, to which HMRC issued a winding-up order over unpaid debts to the taxman earlier this month, to someone who can invest money into it.
The four banners carried quotes from Mr Ladak about handing the club to the fans and having supporters’ interests at heart.
Mr Severn said there was also a lot of chanting calling on Mr Ladak to leave the club.
Fans had initially aimed to hold the demonstration at the Poppies’ home game against Forest Green Rovers earlier this month.
But following its postponement because of a frozen pitch the supporters’ trust delayed the protest to Saturday’s home game.
The team did play a home game against Gateshead last Tuesday night, but the fixture was instead used to celebrate the life of Ryan Kirk, a 19-year-old fan who died in a car crash near Grafton Underwood on January 10.
At last Tuesday night’s game there was a mild protest with scoreboard operator Chris Knight writing a message at half-time asking Mr Ladak to go.
Mr Knight said: “Everyone got behind the protest and sent a clear message out there.”
It is understood that former Poppies director Lee Thorn, who made an offer for the club which has since been withdrawn, has organised a fans’ forum at Nene Park at 7pm on Friday.
The trust has launched a fighting fund to help with any potential takeover. For more information visit www.poppynet.co.uk.
Two teams of supporters will play at the Poppies’ old ground in Rockingham Road on Saturday to pay for the funerals of Ryan Kirk and 17-year-old Charlotte Filer, who also died in the accident. The captains will be Ryan’s cousin Curtis and Charlotte’s brother Aaron.
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