Comment by Ilyas
 

Colleagues, friends, fans and shareholders.

I simply want to thank you all for the messages of support and goodwill.

I have stepped down from the Club today, and I have given away every single share that I owned in line with my commitment and statements made 3 years ago.

The club is in fine form in many respects, but as always, there is work to be done. I hope we can all support the Directors and our new manager, and above all, our players, as they build on the platform that has already been created.

As I have stated in the short note on the website I cannot adequately describe my love and passion for the club and the town. These are things that will never change, so I hope you will understand that my stepping down is not a departure, simply a change in my relationship with the club.

I also wish to take this opportunity of thanking everyone for their support. I also want to apologise for any mistakes, oversights or mis-steps that I might have made. As Chairman the buck stopped with me and if I am to be applauded for our progress, I must also bear responsibility for any shortcomings.

Finally, a huge and heartfelt thank you to the fans. Please provide Peter Marsden with the patient support you gave to me. I am sure he will be communicating with you in due course with his own plans and aspirations, all of which are going to be in the best interests of the club.

with Warmest regards
Ilyas

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Good on yer mate.;)

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JUst ..... thank you.

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Thank you Ilyas.

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Rovers fan for my sins...

You sir, are a beacon of light, the Jack Walker of Accrington Stanley.

Transparent, altruistic, honourable and a true fan.

Wish there were more like you in this peoples game

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

A Man of integrity, thank you.

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Are you joining us standing on the Clayton End tomorrow, Sir? You'd be most warmly welcomed ........

Thank you for everything ...........

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Ilyas, as one Accy lad to another, thanks for all you've done for our beloved club. Hope I get the chance to meet you again on a terrace somewhere here down south.
Alan.

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:) Thank you Ilyas for everthing you have done for our great club :)

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Deepest thanks and best wishes Ilyas from the Red Darreners

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Thanks for everything Ilyas, good luck for everything in the future and I hope to see you on The Clayton End soon!!!!!!!!!!!!

:) :) :)

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Thanks for everything you've done Ilyas. We all know we wouldn't be here but for you. Will you be joining us in your mum's stand this afternoon?

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I can only echo the sentiments shared by fellow supporters

Good Luck in everything you do Ilyas!

Neil

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Thanks for everything Ilyas............. LEGEND.

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Heartfelt thanks for everything you have done.

When we met up at your garden meeting a couple of years ago we could not have envisaged that the club would emerge in these sunlit uplands or what dark days you would have to bring it out of to get there.

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

From the BBC website:
Khan revealed to BBC Sport this week that he had been a victim of racial abuse and had been attacked with stones since he took control of the club in March 2011.


BBC Sport - Accrington Stanley chairman Ilyas Khan steps down

May those involved hang their heads in shame.

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Spot on there yerself, this guy has done nothing but good for Stanley and Accrington, wish there were more people in football like him

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Yerself - and others. I feel i have to just clarify that there is absolutely NO CONNECTION - NONE WHATSOEVER between the BBC article that appeared a few days ago, and my stepping down from the Chairmanship and distributing my shares.

The BBC article on racism was actually the product of an extensive interview with the BBC reporter many months ago. I had no idea that it would appear on the day it did, and frankly I have my misgivings about the headline which is rather shrill and toneless. Certainly not in line with the usual standards employed by the BBC. The narrative in the body of the article itself is largely fine, so I cant really say too much about the reporter's and editors choice of why they zeroed in on this aspect of the conversation rather than anything else.

Turning back to the matter in hand, the AGM was planned some time back, and my commitment to distribute all of my shares to existing shareholders is now well documented over a 3 year period.

I am sorry that there is a perceived link, but I hope that you will understand that racism is just about the least of my worries at the club or in my personal life, and the article placed a great deal of emphasis on one part of a wide ranging and diverse conversation about many the many positive things that I hold dear in connection with Accrington, the club, and my memories of my beloved home town.

I would just add that I have never felt anything but warmth and support from fans in the ground, and in fact support from the fans has always been almost embarrassingly strong ! I am first and last an Accringtonian and Lancastrian. And proudly so !

with my respectful best wishes to you all,
Ilyas

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Top bloke. Accrington Ilyas...

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Known as "the club that wouldn't die. Without Ilyas Accrington Stanley would have been dead and buried months ago. Can't thank you enough Ilyas , I salute you.

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Just to echo what everyone else has said - heartfelt thanks to a true gentleman!

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Typical of Ilyas to do just what he promised. I really hope that all he's done for the club will never be forgotten.

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Ilyas, can I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my love of my home town football team. If I could have done it, I would have done the same as you, but unfortunately, finances aren't quite in your league. However, I was fortunate enough to have a share bought for me for the SOS campaign a while back, and it is something I will cherish forever. Stanley fans, wherever they may be, will be forever in your debt. Look forward to you being amongst the fans in the Clayton End again.

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If ever a man deserved a statue in his honour outside a football ground it is you, Ilyas. I will never forget that dark night of high drama outside the Crown when you drove non-stop up from the big smoke to be with the fans and reassure us that the club was not going down the tubes as long as you had a bone in your body. You are a great man and the best ambassador the town of Accrington could ever wish for.

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

I'd just like to echo the sentiments of this thread and offer my sincere thanks to Ilyas !!

Without Ilyas and his backing, the club would have suffered the infamy of going out of business twice. He has steered the good ship Stanley from the troubled waters of potential financial ruin toward the calmer waters of relative financial stability.

For me...Ilyas is " Mr. Accrington Stanley "....Legend !!:notworthy:worthy::notworthy:worthy:

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Can't dispute a word of that.;)

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What Peter and yourself did/do for Stanley is above and beyond but thats what happens when you get involved with what is the red and white roller coaster the club just gets under your skin, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the help you have given the biggest little football club in the world, all the very best to you Ilyas and lets have you on the drum on the Clayton end next season.

Respect mate from the best club and the best fans in the country.

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Thank you, Ilyas. For all your humble reflection of all forms of praise, the fact is that we would not have a club to support if it weren't for you. You not only saved the club in the immediate sense but along with Peter gave it life and hope for the future. You have done your town proud.

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Ilyas, as others have said, if it wasn't for you, there would be no Stanley.

We'll never be able to thank you enough.

From a fellow Accringtonian...and, like you, proud of it!

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I agree wi' tuthers bud, tha's not a bad lad at all

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Thank you Ilyas for everything that you have done for our great little club.

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I think that others have said just about everything that can be said. Ilyas deserves every accoldade that has been bestowed upon him by previous posters.

Why not now the freedom ofAccrington?

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Thank you Ilyas; there will always be immense gratitude from all of us for the action taken by you and Peter at the 11th hour and for the work undertaken after that. I truly hope that the work done will blossom under Peter and his team and that all concerned with the club at all levels will remember, reflect and celebrate what was done to Preserve the name and the pride of Accrington and it's League Football Team. Accrington Stanley. I wish you all the best for the future.


Malcolm Douglas

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Not sure what else I can add that others have put

Ilyas you are one very rare gentleman, the world would be a better place with many more like you around

Thank you xx

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Ilyas, I would also like to sincerely echo the sentiments of all the previous posters. I was there outside the ground that night when all seemed lost but you came to the rescue and saved the club from extinction.

What really impresses me though is that you have carried out your promises not only with HONESTY and with INTEGRITY, and TRANSPARENCY but also with a total HUMILITY which is the measure of a truly sincere person.

It is this that makes you such a fine Accringtonian and I am sure that all true Stanley fans can only thank you from the bottom of their hearts.

If ever the young people of our country need a fine role model then they need look no further!
On Stanley On.

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

On the Rovers message board Ilyas is being linked with a consortium to buy out Venkeys! Could this be true?

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

The venkeys are staying, both they and kean still have work to do, putting that place back where they belong, League 1 :)

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

In today's Telegraph:

Seneca prepare Blackburn Rovers bid (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

and so begins phase 2 of Ilyas' Stanley revival.


August 2012 .... Rovers announce they are to share training facilities with neighbours Accrington Stanley. It is thought this move might finally allow Leam Richardson, Danny Coid and the re-signed Alan Burton to finally make the first 11 at Accrington.

September 2012 ... After a disastrous start to their Championship campaign Blackburn finally sack Agent Kean. Agent Khan says that the best man for the job would be ex-Burnley stalwart Paul Cook, who would allow them to reconnect with their fanbase. The sticking point appears to be Cooks 5 year contract at Accrington.

October 2012 ... After a long and protracted negotiation period, a sizeable compensation package is agreed and Cook puts pen to paper on a six month contract at Ewood. Coid and Burton will join him on 'loan' agreements until the transfer window opens in January. Leam Richardson will take the reigns at Accrington.

November 2012 ... The Rovershop announces a deal whereby any Stanley season ticket holders can have a free Rovers season ticket. The same deal is applied to replica shirt and scarf wearers. New Stanley club shop manager Lewis Carroll says they have been swamped and people are lined up all the way down Coleman Way to Livingstone Road. This deal is in place for the next ten years and is ringfenced against any future investment.

December 2012 ... Rovers fans hold candlelit vigils outside the club offices in the wake of the managers decision to send The Yak, Paul Robinson, Morten Gammy Pederson, David Dunn and Junior Toilette to Accrington on season long loans.

January 1st 2013 ... Agent Khan is forced to relinquish his position as the Football League 'fit and proper persons' test reveals that he once owned a shell suit. In lime green. Rovers messageboards crash their servers as they clamour to thank him for ridding the club of the chicken farmers and Agent Kean. Agent Khan returns to the Clayton End smugfaced.

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

More from today's Telegraph:

Khan: I am prepared to help Blackburn Rovers takeover plans (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Good for Ilyas, is all I can say!

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thank you Ilyas

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Lol @ Macca

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We need men like Ilyas on board at Rvrs a man in the same mould as Uncle Jack loves his roots and football club!

Re: Comment by Ilyas
 

Ta Ilyas :thankya: :mosher: