New Southport owners David Cunningham and Kieran Malone on Neil Danns, budget and the club facing extinction
Off The Park exclusively speaks to new Southport owners David Cunningham and Kieran Malone.
New Southport majority shareholders David Cunningham and Kieran Malone say the club will be competitive, but they will not promise outlandish five-year plans after saving the club from the brink of extinction.
The new custodians of the Sandgrounders were forced to endure a stressful takeover process from the Big Help Group that saw the Charity Commission’s intervention and vigorous checks by the National League before ratification.
In order to officially complete their takeover, both Cunningham and Malone were forced to inherit eye-watering debts, in order to pay off creditors, debtors among others.
The weeks after Southport spoiled Kidderminster Harriers’ promotion party, behind the scenes, the takeover conversations were ongoing but little did the new chiefs realise, their involvement in the club was do or die.
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While the cloud loomed over Southport during the process, Neil Danns and Mark Duffy were appointed as manager and assistant, respectively.
Since then, the former Premier League midfielder has added Mo Touray and Luke Tabone to the squad, as well as extending Chris Renshaw’s contract.
Last season saw Jim Bentley enjoy a positive start to the season but a mid-season collapse saw him lose his job, leaving David Morgan in caretaker charge, steering the club towards safety as they finished third from bottom.
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