IT’S take three for Ilkeston after the club was purchased from liquidators by Notts County owner Alan Hardy – ending the air of mystery surrounding the future of football in the town.
The Robins closed in May when they were wound-up in the High Court. It was the second time inside seven years that the curtain came down following even greater mismanagement.
The new-look club will be called Ilkeston Town, the name of the club before it’s first closure in 2010 and it will be piloted by Hardy, a successful Nottinghamshire businessman who is also in control at League Two County.
The millionaire has brought them them back to life, paying an undisclosed fee, meaning that creditors are likely to see part, if not all, of the old club’s debts settled by the former Evo-Stik NPL Premier team.
The remake are to be placed in the Midland League Division One, meaning Step 6 football for a club who used to ply their trade in the Conference North.
That, fans will consider, is a small price to pay when it look for most of the summer that they wouldn’t have a club to support next season.
They will be managed by ex-Nottingham Forest defender Steve Chettle, Ilkeston’s former assistant manager, who leaves Nuneaton Town to return to the New Manor Ground.
Hardy said: “Having grown up in neighbouring Eastwood, I simply couldn’t allow one of the East Midlands’ finest Non-League clubs’ existence to cease when I knew there was a viable method for me to take it forward.
“I am grateful to the FA for giving us the opportunity to compete in the Midland Football League Division One this season and it’s now time to move on with making Ilkeston Town a success on and off the field following a very challenging period for the club.
“I am absolutely thrilled to have completed my purchase and I am absolutely committed to making the club not only self-sustainable, but also competitive and ambitious in aiming to claim a place in the second tier of Non-League football in the medium term.
“Until this particular opportunity arose it was never my intention to acquire another football club. There are very few, if any, other clubs I would rescue.
“As I touched on earlier, Ilkeston are a special case for me personally and, as was the case with Notts County, it would have genuinely hurt me to see them die.”
Chettle is the new boss and Hardy added: “Steve is an Ilkeston and Nottingham Forest legend who I’m sure will prove to be an exciting appointment for supporters.
“I am now looking forward to working with the people of Ilkeston to develop a club they, and their town, deserve.”
