Music ban football club's owner criticises council

Andy Holt said he "wanted to put some money back into the town"

Accrington Stanley's owner has accused the council of holding the town back and failing to support the football club after it lost the right to host functions where live and amplified music would be played.

The League Two side said it had been forced to close its hospitality suite after losing its entertainment licence amid complaints from residents.

Andy Holt said: "At the end of the day the council's got to support the club and that's the end of it, I'm not accepting anything else."

Hyndburn Council said Stanley is "an important community asset" and insisted it would remain committed to working with the club but did not respond directly to Mr Holt's accusations.

The owner said: "I wanted to put some money back into the town and that's it.

"The council holds the town back and they need to get behind industry and behind business and build the thing up."

Andy Holt said £6m has been spent on the club under his tenure

"This is their town's club. I'm just one face in a long line of owners and I've improved that club for the better," he continued.

"The standoff is that the council have to support the club, they have to be a partner."

The club attended a council licensing hearing on 6 March following complaints from several residents who raised concerns that the area surrounding the club was residential and, as such, they should not be subjected to music in their properties and gardens.

One resident described "revellers making a racket" after a karaoke night and taxis being heard after 01:00.

'Making a racket'

Mr Holt said: "We've spent £6m on the club, nobody has spent as much on Accrington as I have.

"I can't stop people turning up to a football club in a taxi, I can't stop them walking past people's houses, but what the council's doing means the chippies aren't getting any business, the pubs in town aren't getting any business, and Accrington continues down its dreary, failing, backward path."

The hospitality suite, called The Venue, will remain open on match days, where an allowance has been made for events until 19:30.