Fans launch nationwide appeal

DHST chairman Alex Crane took time out from a star-studded fundraising fixture at Champion Hill for homelessness charity Centrepoint on Wednesday night to urge fellow fans to register their support after their local authority rejected a 94 per cent vote of their membership in favour of amending a covenant holding back the redevelopment which would be funded by new housing, including affordable homes.

With the Buildbase FA Trophy quarter-finalists facing a deadline of Tuesday 7 March for fans to support them after their plans were referred to the Planning Inspectorate, Crane told this week's Non-League Show that the 124-year-old club's future would be in severe jeopardy with rejection spelling the end of their dreams of fan ownership after being able to clear their debts.

Crane told host Caroline Barker that Southwark Council were against their plans despite the 600 per cent rise in crowds they've generated in recent seasons and the shining example they've set supporting local and national good causes, efforts that saw Hamlet named 2016 Community Club of the Year by the Non-League Paper in last May's National Game Awards at Chelsea's Stamford Bridge.

Crane said: "All this good work could be put in jeopardy by Southwark Council’s refusal to take a decision on the proposed redevelopment of Champion Hill, and associated amendments to the covenant. The redevelopment will allow debts to be cleared, the club to be put into fan ownership to protect its future and a new ground to be developed that will benefit the club, community and local schools. Without this, the future of this club is severely at risk."

A number of England’s Homeless World Cup stars kicked off alongside celebrities and former professionals including TalkSPORT's former Arsenal legend Perry Groves and Nottingham Forest cult hero Jason Lee in the midweek fundraiser which was organised by the Street Football Association (SFA). As part of Centrepoint, the SFA uses street football to positively transform the lives of homeless and socially excluded adults.

For more in formation on the proposed redevelopment, visit: dhst.org.uk/support-our-stadium.

For a step-by-step guide on how to comment on case APP/A5840/W/16/3164823, visit: dhst.org.uk/support-our-stadium/how-to-send-comments-to-the-planning-inspectorate.

Supporters can also draw on suggested wording at: dhst.org.uk/support-our-stadium/planning-application-appeal.

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