Chris Roberts (chairman)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Chris Roberts was the Chairman of Torquay United Football Club between October 2006 and February 2007.
Roberts and three other directors set up Torquay United Holdings Ltd to buy shares in October 2006 from Torquay United Football Club owner Mike Bateson over a four year deal. There was only one shareholder of Torquay United Holdings, Roberts' wife Michele. Bateston still "owned" the club by retaining a 51 per cent share. 34% of the club's shares were sold to the consortium [1].
It was suggested that he was more interested in buying a 12,000 all seater stadium (The Rec) than sorting out the problems on the pitch . This left Torquay United fans outraged.
His past career is heavily based in football having played in the Czech Republic when young, and performed various roles in the sport, such as being an advisor to FIFA and UEFA and being involved in the deal that brought Mark Viduka to Glasgow Celtic.
In November 2006, Roberts introduced a new initiative whereby he stated that he would sack Torquay players if they repeatedly tried to fool referees by diving.[2]
On November 27, 2006 Roberts appointed his friend from the Czech Republic, Lubos Kubik, as manager and Bateson's son-in-law, Richard Hancox as his assistant. Former manager Ian Atkins was offered the post of Director of Football, but decided against staying with the new regime.
On January 4, 2007 the Torquay United Supporters Trust released a press statement proposing a vote of no confidence in Roberts as chairman of the football club [3].
On February 6, 2007, Roberts appointed fan's favourite Colin Lee as the new director of football. Lee signed a three year deal and said "Over the next 3 years I intend to implement a new blue print for the football department of Torquay United to put us on a par with comparable sized clubs higher up the Football League ladder." Lee followed this by appointing former player Keith Curle as the new head coach.
Amid growing criticism from all angles (including fans, club directors, the former owner, the media and local politicians), Roberts finally resigned as chairman on February 21, 2007.
