UPDATE: Holbrook Club served notice following lease row

Notice has been served to a popular Horsham sports club after a new lease was '˜rejected', Horsham Football Club has said.
By The Newsroom
Published 27th Jun 2016, 10:32 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 17:18 BST

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Aerial shot of the Holbrook Club site in Horsham. Photo courtesy of Google EarthAerial shot of the Holbrook Club site in Horsham. Photo courtesy of Google Earth
Aerial shot of the Holbrook Club site in Horsham. Photo courtesy of Google Earth

The future of the Holbrook Club, which operates on land owned by the football club in North Heath Lane, was cast into doubt after row emerged between the two parities over a new lease last week.

The site is part of a development plan which would see a new ground for the football club built at Hop Oast. Houses would be built at Holbrook in a linked development, helping to raise funds for the ground.

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In a statement released on the football club’s website it said: “Following extensive discussions with the Holbrook Club over a long period, Horsham FC are extremely disappointed to have been told that The Board of Directors of The Holbrook Club have refused to accept the terms of a new lease offered.

“The lease would have provided them with a term of 25 years with full legal security, something they have never had before, which, by virtue of its tenure, would have allowed for them to source substantial grants to improve and enhance facilities at the Club.

“We have been committed for over nine years since the purchase of The Holbrook Club to try to secure the long term future of both Clubs in parallel. We are deeply saddened that this comprehensive offer was rejected by the Board of Directors of the Holbrook Club and feel that everything has been done by us to try to secure their future.

“As a result, due to increasing urgency to move forward the project to find a new home for Horsham FC, the Club has had to serve Notice to the Holbrook Club.

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“We believe that the lease offered to The Holbrook Club, together with the proposed Hop Oast development would have secured a long and successful future for both Clubs but it has been rejected. The mutually beneficial offer made to The Holbrook Club was always Horsham FC’s preferred option and we will do our utmost to ensure that the facility remains open to the Public under a new Management structure and discussions and planning are already underway as to how we will run the club going forward.”

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