Curtis: I've acted within the law

8:28am Thursday 13th March 2008

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WEYMOUTH chairman Malcolm Curtis has again played down suggestions of irregularities over the transfer of land at the Wessex Stadium to his company Wessex Park Limited.

Following a statement released to the Press an unnamed group has instructed solicitors and accountants to investigate the deal.

But Terras' majority shareholder Curtis insists the transfer was done honestly.

He told Echosport: "I'm 100 per cent confident that we've acted within the law. People are again trying to knock plans to make Weymouth Football Club sustainable so it's very disappointing indeed.

"If people want to challenge me in a court of law then fine, I'm not daft enough to have not sought sufficient advice before going ahead with the deal.

"The statement doesn't damage me or Wessex Park Limited, all it does is damage Weymouth FC. I've said in the Echo before that bickering only prevents people from wanting to get involved with the club and it's very frustrating.

"As a club we are trying to change big time. We've changed the business model, some of the players and even the manager so we were going to upset some people along the way."

Concerned The unhappy group is believed to consist of ex-directors, majority shareholders and sponsors, but three names who have ruled themselves out of the equation are Ian Ridley, Martyn Harrison and Dave Higson.

Former chairman Ridley said: "I know that there a lot of people concerned with the developments at the club and several people, myself included, have expressed their concerns but this group is something I have no knowledge about."

Another ex-chairman, Harrison, added: "I was at both the home games against Farsley Celtic on Tuesday night and the week before against Forest Green Rovers, and at those games I was never approached by anyone in regards to this group."

Higson, whose firm Park Engineering recently declared they are unlikely to be the Terras' main sponsors next season, also distanced himself from any involvement.

He said: "It's news to me, I don't know who's involved. I've made my feelings known already in the Echo and I don't want to disrupt the club, but that doesn't mean I'm happy with how the deal was done.

"Even if I don't like what's gone on I will be happy knowing that the club is being run and that someone is paying the players' wages therefore we have a club to support. If Malcolm Curtis has failed to act correctly then he will face the consequences."

The group are expected to issue a statement shortly, once they've met with their accountants and solicitors.