The Gibbons’ Resign

Relief. Mary Gibbons today tendered her resignation after an ongoing, quite bitter feud with a section of the County support.

Gibbons, ‘acting chairwoman’, released a statement on behalf of herself and husband Tony, who has also resigned as a Director, today stating that she was issuing their resignation with ‘considerable regret, and with immediate effect.’

This statement, issued at 1.50pm on Wednesday, 18th May, 2011, will be presented to all Stockport County shareholders at 2pm before the start of the shareholders meeting.

It is with considerable regret and sadness that I have decided to resign my position of vice chair lady of Stockport County, with immediate effect. I have, along with my husband Tony, also resigned as a director of Stockport County with immediate effect.

We would like to thank all those supporters who have loyally backed our club during this particularly difficult season. Relegation has broken all our hearts; we share the anguish it has caused – not only for the fans but also for all those wonderful people who work so tirelessly behind the scenes. We particularly thank them for their loyalty.

County’s future now rests with the other board members, who we urge to act in the best interests of the club at all times.

We are fully aware of on-going discussions that we believe will secure the club’s future and provide an exciting foundation on which to rebuild County. We urge the current board and shareholders to do everything in their power to bring these discussions to a positive conclusion. Tony and I will remain County fans, and look forward to being able to watch the club we love prosper in the coming years. It has been a privilege to work for such a wonderful club and it will remain an honor to stand shoulder to shoulder with our wonderful fans next season.

Mary Gibbons

One does have to say…finally. The tension between the supporters and the Gibbons’ was becoming somewhat personal and angry over the 2015 Consortium’s error-prone tenure in charge of The Hatters, and she appears to have listened and gone on her own terms.

Vital Stockport ourselves have been critical of the ownership, and I make no apology for wanting the best for our club – but I’m glad she has gone on her own terms, and I sincerely hope we see both Mary and Tony back at the ground as fans next season.

But in terms of running the football club, I think it’s safe to say we’ve had enough ‘well-meaning amateurs.’ Let’s do this properly, appoint a good (ex) manager, and build from the bottom. Our problems are not over, by a long way. But let’s give ourselves a chance.

ANIMO ET FIDE.