| Announcement - 16th November 2007 Dorking FC attended a hearing at Reigate County Court on Friday 16 November. The club had had less than 3 days to prepare for the hearing and to brief its lawyers after receiving extremely short notice of the case from its landlord, Mole Valley District Council, despite the council admitting it had been preparing for the case since July. Despite arguing to the contrary for some considerable time, MVDC have now conceded that Dorking Football Club Limited is a protected tenant under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 which affords the club protection from aggressive landlord behaviour, as well as security of tenure at its Meadowbank ground for the immediate future. As such, the club would like to reassure its supporters that football will continue at Meadowbank so Dorking’s first team, SYL Under 18 side, Dorking Girls and visiting Bookham and Brockham Badgers sides fixtures will of course still be played as normal . Dorking FC entertain Bedfont FC in a Combined Counties League match tomorrow, Sat 17 November. The judge at Reigate County Court agreed to the club’s request for a reasonable period for the club to file its evidence in response to the case brought forward by MVDC, and due to the large public interest in the case, has directed that the case will be held in February or later in Spring (at a date to be advised) at Guildford County Court before a senior judge. The case will be to consider a longstanding court application by the club for a new long term lease of its Meadowbank ground, which MVDC are seeking to strike out as a matter of court procedure. Even if the club are unsuccessful in the spring 2008 hearing, it will still retain its protected tenant status under the Landlord and Tenant legislation, the early 2008 hearing being to consider the strike out of the old proceedings. The club believes it has a strong case and will be endeavouring to protect its position with the help of its legal advisers. The club wishes to reiterate its disappointment and frustration with the actions and conduct of MVDC, as summarised in our recent press announcement and we must question the large sums of public money being thrown at this matter by our local council and the motive behind this course of action. Against the fact that Dorking Football Club Limited is a voluntary body and where the matter could be sorted directly by constructive negotiations; and where the significant funds being expended by DFC in defending its protected position could be better spent on football and ground maintenance items, MVDC policy in this matter must be questionable. Dorking Football Club Limited |