AFC Fylde owner vows to remain a straight talker

It comes after the Mill Farm chief revealed to The Gazette earlier this week that the Coasters would be voting in favour of the National League’s proposals to end the 2019/20 season without fulfilling clubs’ remaining fixtures.

Clubs in the National League, National League North and South have been given until May 7 to submit their votes.

Should the League’s resolution pass, a second vote will then take place to determine the outcome of the season.

The Coasters currently sit inside the National League relegation zone, four points adrift of safety.

Haythornthwaite, who has previously suggested the season should be declared null and void with no promotion or relegation, reiterated that honesty is the best policy.

“I’ve always believed in being transparent,” Haythornthwaite told The Gazette.

“It’s controversial because a lot of other people like to keep everything close to their chest to keep people in the dark.

“I don’t believe in that and I’ve always said if I’m going to be a chairman of a club I’d want to be transparent.

“Not everyone likes to hear what you have to say and sometimes you get a bit of flak, but on balance I believe it’s always best to be as honest as possible – especially in these difficult times.”

Wages among players and staff had previously been halved to help the club deal with financial constraints caused by the coronavirus.

Following further talks, the club opted to defer wages instead.

Haythornthwaite has since warned that clubs are likely to go bust if players’ contracts aren’t brought to the negotiating table.

He added: “I think there will be casualties because of this, whatever happens, but the longer it drags on the more problems there will be for clubs in terms of lack of income and contracted players.

“Those without contracted players have a lot less problems than those clubs with contracted players. This is the big issue, not just at National League level, but throughout the divisions.

“It’s the subject that’s not being discussed because it’s the elephant in the room.

“Take Liverpool for example, if they asked Mo Salah to take a pay cut – which I believe all players should be doing – then he will technically be in breach of his contract.

“That allows agents to offer them to other clubs, which clubs like Liverpool are petrified of because they will lose their best assets.

“They find themselves in the unfortunate position of having to pay their players in full and this is why they can’t get an agreement.

“No-one wants to talk about it but these are the facts. It all revolves around agents and their ability to move players on if there is a contractual breach. It’s the same problem I’m having at Fylde now.”