Long Eaton United confirmed that the former head of restructuring at international, professional services firm Deloitte, Nick Dargan will formally take on the role as Chairman from the start of the club’s next financial year.

Dargan, who has been involved in the Long Eaton United’s strategic and financial development for a number of years was quick to praise current chairman Jim Fairley, Dargan stated: “Jim and I have worked closely together developing the club and will continue to do so. Jim lives and breathes the club and has done an outstanding job as chairman and will continue as head of operations going forwards. Part of our remit will be to continue to expand the overall management team as the club continues its progress.”

On Easter Monday, the club secured promotion to the Pitching In Northern Premier League as United Counties League North Champions.

“Huge congratulations to Ian Deakin, his management team, the players and everyone involved in achieving promotion, culminating in a fabulous day for everyone present on bank holiday Monday,” Dargan added: “It is now our job to advance the club’s commercial infrastructure to ensure the team remains competitive and can progress.”

For 5 years the club has been quietly developing a superb academy in partnership with VLUK that supports the first team and the recent recruitment of Danny Gordon to work alongside Curt Burrows in leading the academy has enabled the club to announce the appointment of Paul “Dutch” Holland as its new commercial manager alongside his role as head of academy recruitment.

Paul Holland assumes his new role with immediate effect and stated: “It is imperative we work closely with the local community, the newly reformed supporter’s group, and local businesses. Crowd numbers have grown steadily throughout the season, but we have some way to go if we are to close the gap on some of our local neighbours who boast average gates far in excess of our own; it’s our intention to start to close that gap.”

Holland added: “With support from Nick, Jim, our existing sponsors and our ambitious commercial plan it is the club’s intention to give Ian Deakin the tools to continue progress on the pitch whilst significant development continues apace off it.”

As well as developing the men’s first team, the club intends to continue improving the whole of the Grange Park campus for all involved at the club.

Dargan added: “We hope anyone visiting Grange Park over the last few years will have been impressed with the facilities that Jim and I have tried to develop for the whole community. With the substantial work already started for this summer, including a new state of the art stadium pitch with drainage and electronic irrigation; refurbishment of the seating in the main stand, improved changing rooms, new maintenance kit and completion of our new “1956 Suite” alongside significant other improvements investment will have exceeded £2.5m.

“Whilst we have invested significant personal funds in the project it would be remiss of me not to thank the Football Foundation and the Premier League and FA Facilities Fund (now the Premier League Stadium fund) for their considerable contributions as well as the fantastic help and support from the Derbyshire FA.”

https://www.premierleague.com/news/2548638

The investment in the club’s infrastructure benefits all teams involved at Long Eaton United including over 30 junior teams who now have facilities second to none in the region as well as the club’s excellent ladies’ team who play in Tier 4 in the FA Women’s National League Division 1 Midlands and the club is hoping to announce shortly an exciting partnership with another local club to create a pathway for girls/ladies of all ages to be involved in the game.

Finally, Dargan added: “Everything we are seeking to develop here at Long Eaton United is community based. Both our ladies and junior sections as well as our academy operate as charitable enterprises and we are keen to continue working closely with a variety of other local charities to provide them with access to the facilities and equipment required to engage in sport and involve them on the next stage of the clubs exciting journey.”