WEYMOUTH chief executive Gary Calder has revealed that it was property developer Malcolm Curtis who pulled out of the proposed takeover deal that was struck before Christmas not the consortium.

Reacting to comments made by Curtis in yesterday’s Dorset Echo where the former chairman branded the Terras “the Afghanistan of non-League football,” Calder has also given some insight into the work going on behind-the-scenes to stabilise the troubled club.

He said: “On December 23, a deal was agreed between the consortium and Malcolm Curtis where he would pay £150,000 into the club either as a one-off payment or through instalments between now and the end of the season.

“He put £20,000 in before Christmas but then a couple of weeks afterwards we were informed that the deal was not going to happen, which obviously came as a big bombshell.

“The consortium said they would only take over the club on the condition that the £150,000 would go towards servicing the debt and I want to make it clear now that the consortium nor the club pulled out of the deal.

“As there is now a balance of £130,000 not coming in, the consortium is considering their position and we are still talking to them as well as other new investors, and the most important thing now is the future of WFC.

“WFC is bigger than any one individual, including Malcolm Curtis, me or anyone else, and the stability of the club is what we are working hard to achieve.”

Curtis notified the club that he was resigning from his position as chairman on January 12 and since then his 82 per cent shareholding has been transferred into a company called Make It So Ltd.

Calder added: “Make It So Ltd is a company owned by WFC directors that is being used as a vehicle to sell the shares, which Malcolm Curtis is well aware of.

“His resignation has basically left us holding the baby. He was the one that transferred the shares and although people might not think he is able to just go ahead and do that, he can and has.

“And contrary to rumours, he was not out of the club before Christmas and we can assure you of that. We can also assure people that only as of this week he is 100 per cent no longer involved in WFC in terms of shares or as a director.”

Curtis has claimed he has ploughed £240,000 into the club since he took over in October 2007 but Calder has also shed more light on the conditions behind that investment.

He said: “The £240,000 Malcolm Curtis has put into the club is still showing in the books as a loan but he has said he will look at that if the development of the new stadium takes place.”

As for Curtis comparing the club with Afghanistan, Calder added: “The club would particularly like to distance itself from those comments.

“People could have family members serving out there or even have relations who have died out there, and a remark like that is of bad taste and could cause huge offence.

“Also such words do not do anything to help the club and its efforts to move forward, and that is what we all need to focus on. The future of the club of paramount importance.”

Although Curtis is still very much part of Wessex Delivery Partnership LLP, which owns the land surrounding the Wessex Stadium, Calder has moved to assure fans that the club’s future at the ground is still secure.

He said: “The football club can play here forever and a day at least until a new stadium is built.”

* Echosport understands that the reason Malcolm Curtis pulled out of the deal with the consortium is because Morgan Sindall Investments, who are the major force behind Wessex Delivery Partnership LLP, refused to back it.