BRENTFORD F.C. chairman Ron Noades revealed yesterday that he had had enough of being abused by fans and would be quitting the club between now and the end of the season (writes TONY FLOOD).

He said: "I've had enough. I will be leaving the board and not getting involved at all. The abuse I've received from one section of supporters has been very upsetting for my wife and I.

"Apart from them making foul-mouthed verbal insults, they have written to my neighbours and put up posters saying I'm wanted for the murder of Brentford F.C.

"I'm no longer willing to fight them and Hounslow Council. I am still prepared to let the supporters trust Bees United buy my 63% of the shares for £1 then they can deal with the local authority and see how they get on.

"I will continue to act as guarantor for the club's overdraft of up to £4.5 million for a period long enough for the board to secure another site probably at Lionel Road and agree the sale of the current Griffin Park ground in order to finance the scheme and pay off the overdraft."

Former Crystal Palace owner Noades is likely to be replaced as chairman by current director Eddie Rogers.

Noades, who has been chairman for three months short of five years and took Brentford to promotion during his 15 months as manager, added: "The abuse has caused me to stop going to matches. I have not been to an away game this season and the last home match I attended was on February 25th.

"I've taken stick for the club running up an overdraft of around £4million, but clubs owing only that amount haven't done badly. This season's expected loss of £500,000 should be cut in half next season.

"Another bone of contention has been my strategy for getting a new ground. I wanted Brentford to move somewhere else on a temporary basis which would have enabled us to sell Griffin Park for up to £19 million if the Council had removed planning restrictions.

"This would have enabled us to save £300,000 a year by clearing the overdraft and put around £10 million in the bank to earn interest. But supporters and the Council have opposed this. I'm cheesed off about the whole situation."

March 28, 2003 12:30