ONE of the directors to survive last month’s boardroom cull at Partick Thistle has denied there is “anything sinister” about the club facilitating a takeover attempt by a Chinese-American consortium.
Malcolm Cannon says he understands supporters’ “angst and anxiety” regarding plans by the New City Capital group to purchase a majority shareholding in the Championship club.
But the Cricket Scotland chief executive, who only joined the Thistle board in April, believes a change of ownership would “give opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise exist”.
Cannon said: “The opportunities for the club with the consortium bid are huge. They shouldn’t be dismissed.
“If the bid succeeds I think it will give opportunities that wouldn’t otherwise exist. It gives the chance to work with other clubs with Barnsley and Nice also under this consortium’s ownership. That will help. It will also give the club a new release of energy.
READ MORE: Transfer budget pulled at Partick Thistle as insider brands club 'a shambles'
“The consortium is still considering things. There’s no timescale on it. Inevitability something like this will cause supporters angst and anxiety. Change always does.
“From a football perspective I can’t offer any expertise but from a business perspective I know a bit about finances and running a business in terms of governance and process. I would say there is little to worry about from that side of things.”
Colin Weir, Thistle’s former benefactor, withdrew his financial backing recently due to “uncertainties about potential new ownership”.
Cannon said the club would now run on more prudent grounds but revealed the door would always be open for Weir to return.
He added: “You can’t run a business on benefactors. You can’t assume that gifts will continue to come in. The core business has to be sustainable and we now have a budget that reflects incomings and outgoing without Colin’s input.
“If Colin, at a later juncture, decided he wanted to partner up again that would be hugely welcomed. Hopefully the door is not completely locked to that in future. But at this moment in time we have to run a business that is sustainable with the income from gate receipts and other commercial streams.
“There is no debt in the organisation. We’ve got a budget for players that is acceptable. It’s not as good as some in the division but that is always going to be the case when you’re up against sides that have just been relegated.”
READ MORE: Colin Weir confirms withdrawal of financial support for Partick Thistle
Cannon admits he is frustrated with the disconnect between some elements of the support and the board. He added: “It’s seen as the board versus the fans and I don’t get it.
“It’s almost assumed the board are trying to damage the club in some way. There’s an enmity there. But we are utterly committed to this. We do it as volunteers and are intent on doing what’s right for the club, for its sustainability.
“It may look wrong at times. And people may wish more cash was being injected into the club by wealthy individuals. That’s not me. But I’ll give my time, passion and energy, as will the rest of the board. We all care as much as any fan.
“So I don’t understand the feeling that there’s anything sinister being done by the board. We’re all on the same page. We just want to optimise the chance of those 11 guys in a Thistle shirt winning on a Saturday.
“The fans probably deserve better communication. That’s where we’ve maybe let ourselves down in the past. The best way forward is keeping everyone informed as much as possible.”
Cannon admits he was “surprised” to be kept on by new chairman David Beattie when Jacqui Low, Michael Robertson and Duncan Smillie were ousted last month.
READ MORE: Partick Thistle's uncertain future is looking bleaker by the day
“I take that as a compliment but also as a challenge as I’m effectively tarred with both brushes. I was a wee bit surprised to be asked to stay on but I don’t come with any baggage. I’m a Jags fan now but I don’t have an emotional attachment to how it was being run before. I can be objective going forward.
“The potential new owners might come in and want their own people and I totally get that. But if they asked me to stay on I would.”
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