Featherstone insists fans should thank Nahaboo
Featherstone Rovers have confirmed that majority shareholder Feisal Nahaboo will no longer invest cash in the club.
This follows what have been described as “undisclosed disagreements” in a club statement. Chairman Mark Campbell will continue to run the club.
The statement encourages supporters of the club to “commend his contribution” in regard to Nahaboo, and details several of the club’s recent achievements.
The statement reads: “Nahaboo’s funds helped draw in the likes of Sharpe, Mellors, Cording & Etu last year and helped the clubs foundation with an immense Centre of Excellence filled with equipment.
“For a multi-millionaire to show any interest in Featherstone is rare and fans should thank him for his contribution.
“Nahaboo has also funded the club in difficult times allowing wages to be paid, he has paid off HMRC debts including PAYE and VAT which the RFL were aware of.
“He has been a great servant and fans should commend his contribution and we all hope at the club that he will return if we can resolve a disagreement that has clearly upset Nahaboo.
“We must remember Nahaboo has generously given substantial sums to Castleford, Halifax, Wigan & the RFL. Rugby League has been a beneficiary of his generosity.
“Nahaboo has given three years to the club as a sponsor and investor allowing the club critical funds to strengthen the squad that has seen the club win four titles consecutively.”
Nahaboo himself said: “The fans need to know what the players know. I was 110 percent behind the region.I believe the resources being made available and the strategy deployed would have got the club into SL.
“The players and coaching staff believed that. As did most Directors. I’ve told the club subject to amicable discussions over the next seven days I will keep door open but believe Mark Campbell is the man to lead Fev.
“I did my bit, the fans are with him understandably so walking when in love, was the only way. The Championship has become more difficult and fans should be patient.”
Mark Campbell resiterated the message that fans should be extremely grateful for what Nahaboo had done for the club in recent times.
“The club is proud to have had a financial supporter in Feisal,” he said.
“To show his commitment he left Brazil with celebrity friends to travel home to drive six hours to Cumbria for the Workington game. He was committed to helping the club progress.
“Big personalities who have built big businesses sometimes don’t agree with slow growth and old habits and its normal to have differences but Nahaboo is obviously offended and we respect his wishes and will continue dialogue with him in the next few days.
“I personally thank him for his support that has helped club reach successes in recent times.
“I’d also like to thank Craig in his time at Featherstone as we’ve seen revenues grow across the business year on year and wish him well in the future, and hope to see him down at the Big Fellas Stadium in the future and be able to enjoy the games without the pressure of being the CEO which is a thankless job in rugby league.”