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Transfer of ITFC Academy and Under 23s to Clifton
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Transfer of ITFC Academy and Under 23s to Clifton
The above has now been made public as Academy manager, Anthony Spencer and several players have posted on social media tonight.
Dave stated at the Supporters Group EGM on 17th November, that ITFC academy was to be discontinued and transferred to Clifton. This apparently has now happened and the Under 23s have also gone over to Clifton.
Dave explained that the Club is being run as a business and decisions have to be made regarding areas that were proving too costly without producing tangible benefits. The Academy and the Under 23 team were proving to be a big drain on the clubs finances. Dave assured the meeting that there were no financial problems and the measures being taken were to enable the Club to be run in a sustainable way. The savings following the closures would enable more resources for the First Team which is top priority, and the Clubs ambitions.
Last edited by Matchman (24/11/2021 9:12 PM)
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Re: Transfer of ITFC Academy and Under 23s to Clifton
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Message from owner David Hilton
I can confirm that both our football academy and U23s side will be relocating and moving on to pastures new.
I would like to start by wishing Anthony Spencer and David Lilley along with all the boys the best of luck for the future.The academy was losing money, out of 42 students only 5 signed up locally and the rest came across from Notts Fc. Anthony Spencer had an opportunity to take the academy into Nottingham with a greater chance of success and far easier to commute for 90% of the boys. The Ilkeston community did not buy into the academy and any failing department at any business needs addressing. The boys will continue with their education and football and the club no longer has to prop it up financially.
The u23s are also moving and re branding to Clifton as the majority are students in the academy. This shouldn’t have an impact on Ilkeston supporters as nobody ever turned up in support, or very few did and they are top of the league.
To make it clear to everyone as we did to the supporters club, our priority is the first team and it’s progression. We sometimes make hard decisions for the good of the club. Should any area of the football club make a sustainable model more difficult to achieve then it will close.
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Re: Transfer of ITFC Academy and Under 23s to Clifton
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LINKS TO ILKESTON TOWN FC FULLY SEVERED AS B-TEAM RENAMES AND RELOCATES
Published on: Tuesday, 7th December 2021
The final links between the senior Ilkeston Town team and its B team have been severed this week following the introduction of a new name.
Notts Senior League registrar Rob Hornby told Erewash Sound SPORT that the side formerly known as 'Ilkeston Town FC B' which has been topping the Premier Division is now known as 'Clifton All Whites FC B'.
He added: "It is all in the FA's hands at present, it is a name change, but [with the] same players. Ilkeston felt that FCB made a loss and no players were filtering through to their first team. FCB are all education students and all based in Nottingham and with most the students living in the Clifton area, rather than the team fold, Derbyshire and Notts FA have been working together so a team isn't lost".
He continued: "FCB will only be a name change as all players have moved across, so the playing record will remain and continue as Clifton All Whites FCB. I think the FA are to announce it tomorrow (8th) but definitely by the weekend."
In a statement on the the Ilkeston Town FC website originating from November 24th, club investor and director David Hilton confirmed what would be the forthcoming relocation of the football academy and Under-23s side, and thanked Anthony Spencer and David Lilley whilst wishing the boys well for the future.The statement continued: "Unfortunately, the academy was losing money and therefore the club had to prop it up financially. Out of the 42 students, only five signed up locally with the rest coming from Notts FC’s youth setup.
Anthony had an immediate opportunity to take the academy to Nottingham which will have a far greater chance of success in recruitment with 90% of the students benefiting from an easier commute to the new venue.
Unfortunately, for the sustainability of the club, any failing department needs to be addressed, however, all students will continue their education programme and football as planned at the new venue."
His late November statement said that the priority was now first and foremost in the first team, with its progression, that, sometimes, there was a need to make hard decisions for the good of the club, and that where any area of football club made a sustainable model more difficult to achieve, it would have to close, adding that this was "no different to any other business."
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