Hayes: I'll prove my critics wrong (From Bucks Free Press)

Hayes: I'll prove my critics wrong

10:30am Friday 10th July 2009

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MULTI-millionaire Steve Hayes seized control of Wycombe Wanderers this week after a bitter takeover battle and then vowed to prove the critics wrong.

The 48-year-old businessman, who also owns groundshare tenants London Wasps Rugby Club, becomes the first person to own the club lock, stock and barrel.

Previously the supporters had always held a stake but that disappeared on Monday.

The club’s shareholders voted by a big majority to hand their shares over to him in return for him writing off £3m of the £7m he has loaned the club since becoming managing director five years ago.

The Founder Shareholders voted 81 per cent in favour after being given an accept it or sink ultimatum. The shareholders then followed up with a 99 per cent yes vote.

Hayes had warned fans that his funding would stop if they voted against him. Club directors backing his plan then beefed up that threat by saying a no vote would result in the club going into administration and being docked ten points.

No other alternatives were put on the table.

The fans were given just over a fortnight to decide on the biggest change in the club’s 122-year history.

The government-backed Supporters Direct body accused Hayes of using strong-arm tactics.

Some fans claim they were bullied into the decision and some called Hayes’ victory as the death knell for the club.

But Hayes has promised to prove the doubters wrong.

He said: “I am excited about it and other people should be. There are people out there who won’t like me and there are people out there who refuse to believe I have the best interests of the club at heart, but I will prove them wrong – that has always been my inspiration in life.”

Hayes made his fortune setting up Loans.co.uk and he says this is an even bigger challenge.

He said: “When I set up Loans there were so many people who said I couldn’t do it, who said I was mad, but I proved them wrong and I want to do that again.”

Hayes has taken a bashing off some fans on the Gasroom – a popular internet fans’ chatroom – and he plans to turn their negativity into his inspiration in the style of former Blues boss Martin O’Neill.

Hayes said: “Martin kept every letter of criticism he got and then phoned the writers up when he proved them wrong.

“I have printed, filed and dated the critical messages I’ve received and, one day, I will be contacting them and I’d like to think they will shake my hand. That’s the challenge, and it’s a big one.”

Hayes says he is in it for the long-term even though there is a clause in his takeover that says he can ask for the remaining £4m of his loans to be paid pack in 2014.

He said: “I want to be the next Ivor Beeks [Blues’ long-standing chairman], I want to be around as long as him.

“The club has really got into me. I have lived and breathed it for five years.

“I’m excited to have this chance and if I was a resident of High Wycombe I’d be really excited about what we’re trying to do for this town.

“If you are going to think, you might as well think big.”

One of Hayes’ key plans is to move his two clubs to a new 20,000 stadium at Wycombe Air Park.

He said: “Our stadium proposal is massive for the town. It is about sport, it’s about people and it is about education.”

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