A BUMPER 'gate' of more than 400 fans spilled out onto the bowling green when the Independent Saints' Supporters Association held their first meeting at the Black Bull Hotel.

Spokesman Russ Fairclough said: "The turn-out was phenomenal, and this shows that fans feel let down over the board's handling of the Ellery Hanley affair, and we aim to ensure that we are never kept in the dark again."

Within hours of the meeting two ISSA representatives held talks with Saints' directors regarding the thorny issue of the proposed move to a new ground, reported to be sited in the Lea Green area.

Added Mr. Fairclough: "We are unanimous in our support for Ellery Hanley and hope that any conflict within the club can be resolved quickly, and in a a manner which is in Saints' best interests.

"We were dismayed to read the comments of football operations manager Eric Hughes when he said: 'If you let that type of element make decisions at board level you have really lost it. There was a lot of support for our decision from a more thoughtful, intelligent element, and it remains to be seen what they will make of that.'"

Russ Fairclough went on: "Mr. Hughes has done nothing to repair the rift between himself and the fans, and there is a groundswell of opinion that feels his position at Saints is becoming more untenable by the day."

The ISSA will hold their next meeting at the town hall on Thursday, August 5, at 7.30pm.

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