The Associate Directors Group

From the pinkun

"However, in a contrasting move, the Associate Directors Group - whose 27 members own five per cent of the club's shares - yesterday issued a call for unity among the supporter base as City head into the unchartered waters of League One next season.

Nigel Bertram, chairman of the Associate Directors Group, said after a meeting on Wednesday night: ?It was an extremely positive meeting and the Group will be working closely with the Board in the future to assist in whatever way possible to return the club to the Championship,? said a statement from the Group, whose members have invested upwards of ?675,000 in shares.

?The Associate Directors also gave their full backing to Bryan Gunn, Ian Butterworth, Ian Crook and John Deehan wishing them every success.?

Bertram, who, with his deputy Alan Bowkett, had made the initial calls for senior heads to roll, said it was time to start afresh.

?We have got to pick ourselves up and start from here,? he said. ?It was a very open and frank meeting, very positive.

?We have got to move forward. It is not good keep harping back. The stall has been laid out and we have to get on with it.

?We have really got to get behind the management and give them every possible chance. Ian Butterworth has had experience in lower leagues, Dixie (John Deehan) I am told just works his socks off and goes from ground to ground.

?Bryan is a figurehead, a known figure in the industry.

?He has got to be given a chance and he has got to be given the support of 20,000 supporters.?

Posted By: usacanary, May 15, 22:43:51