Colin Brookes: Halesowen Town has come back to the fans
An emotional Colin Brookes believes Halesowen Town has been brought “back to the fans” after completing a takeover of the club.
The 76-year-old was yesterday confirmed as the new man in charge of the Yeltz, after agreeing a deal with now former owners the Lynch family thought to be worth around £50,000.
It brings to an end months of uncertainty surrounding the 145-year-old club, who were brought to the brink after ex-owner Steve Lynch was hit with a two-year ban by the FA.
Brookes told the Express & Star: “The main emotion is relief, just pure relief.
“The past few months have been the most stressful in my 25 years at the club, I’ve never known anything like it.
“I’m 76-years-old but for the past few weeks I’ve felt 96. Today I feel 21 again! I’m so pleased we have been able to get things over the line.
“The club is back in the hands of people who care about it. Halesowen Town has come home, it is back with the fans.
“It is a huge day but we all know the hard work starts now.”
While Brookes, who has held a variety of roles since joining the Yeltz in 1993 including chairman, is the figurehead for the takeover, the day-to-day running of the club will be taken on by his daughter and the current Yeltz chairman, Karen, together with investor Keith McKenna.
Brookes is understood to have met the Lynch family last Friday in order to sign paperwork, which was then process over the course of the weekend.
Plans are now in place to push through with a number of proposed sponsorship deals, while management duo of John Hill and Matt Clarke have been promised an increased playing budget for the forthcoming Southern League Premier Central campaign.
The long-term blueprint is to make the club self-sustainable, after a decade which has seen its financial health threatened on numerous occasions.
Brookes said: “Karen and Keith are both very good business people. They know what is required.
“I am not saying it is going to be easy because it won’t be. I believe we can look forward to a bright future.”
The new owners have scheduled a fans’ forum for 12.30pm this Sunday, July 8, at the Grove, where they will further explain their plans.