Former Newcastle star Olivier Bernard denies suggesting he ‘doesn’t have time’ to run Durham City
>
Olivier Bernard is PASSED by fans at Durham City – the ‘worst team in England’ currently owned by the absent ex-Newcastle star – as his club announce they have withdrawn from all competitions amid behind-the-scenes financial turmoil
- Durham City is in heavy weather under absent owner Olivier Bernard
- Bernard, who has played for Newcastle over 150 times, has overseen their decline
- Durham has conceded a staggering 128 goals in 13 games this season, scoring just twice, as he struggled behind the scenes with alarming financial difficulties.
- They have now withdrawn from all competitions amid boardroom turmoil
- However, Bernard has vowed on social media to chart a ‘new direction’ for Durham
Former Newcastle defender Olivier Bernard – the absent owner of ‘England’s worst football team’ Durham City – has been flung online after the financially ravaged club announced they had withdrawn from all competitions.
Durham has conceded a staggering 128 goals in 13 games this season, while scoring just twice in 11th-tier Wearside competition, before withdrawing from league and cup competitions amid behind-the-scenes turmoil.
After racking up one win since 2019, outraged supporters have long called for Bernard to bid farewell to the club he controlled nearly a decade ago.
The Frenchman, who made more than 150 appearances in a five-year spell at Newcastle, promised to make Durham “one of the best feeder clubs in the North East” on arrival in 2013, but nine years later they are bankrupt, homeless and, as a result, in heavy weather.
To rub salt in the wounds, Bernard is quoted by The sun that he simply doesn’t have the time or energy to clean up the mess, having put Australian Chris Tanner and his Zenith Sports and Event Management company in charge since December, while also claiming Durham has no real fans.
‘I have the power to change things, but do I have the time? No,’ he said. ‘And the last thing I want is to go to Durham – it’s another hour away.
“There are no Durham City supporters. They are now fans of Spennymoor or Darlington.
Durham City are currently in dire straits under absentee owner Olivier Bernard
Bernard, who has made over 150 appearances for Newcastle, took charge at Durham in 2013
“They have never been supporters, because for me fans don’t switch teams. You wouldn’t move to Sunderland if you support Newcastle.
“It could be me today, but tomorrow it could be someone else. Love the club or not and we don’t have many lovers.’
Durham’s precipitous decline began when they failed to be promoted to the National League North in 2009-10 due to their artificial turf, which resulted in the departure of a number of players and sponsors.
Fast forward 13 years and the club now has no permanent home after a falling out with the owners of New Ferens Park in 2015 for failing to provide the match officials with tea and coffee.
They now play matches eight miles from Durham in Houghton-le-Spring near Sunderland, with a £2400 debt made up of land shares with Consett and Willington reportedly yet to be paid, and Tanner has been running the club since December amid of Bernard’s absence.
However, that was before the saga took a new turn this week, with Durham’s Twitter account revealing that they have officially withdrawn from all competitions, while Tanner and Zenith have also departed.
The former Magpies star has denied he has no time to run Durham on Twitter
Bernard also revealed that he is plotting a ‘new direction’ for the club, despite their current woes
“It is with sadness that we have to announce that we have informed @DurhamFA and the @WearsideLeague that we have withdrawn Durham City from all competitions with immediate effect,” the statement read.
‘@Zenith_SEM has ended the relationship with Olivier Bernard, senior management has also resigned.’
Bernard then took to Twitter himself to deny admitting he didn’t have time to lead Durham in his interview with The Sun, saying: “I want to apologize for the twisted story you’ve all been reading. A lot is taken out of context, but it doesn’t surprise me, because we all know this newspaper!’
“As of today, Chris Tanner and his Zenit team are no longer part of the city’s Durham football club. I will give you more information about the new direction of the club as soon as possible.’
But the 43-year-old’s messages have not gone down well with fans who remain desperate to see their unpopular owner’s back, especially after their withdrawal from all competitions this season.
One replied: ‘Come on, Oli, an ex Newcastle player will only find so much favour. Get rid of the club – pay the debts and be remembered as a footballer – not as a failed owner.’
Another said: ‘Please sell to the fans. We’ve been through enough already. No more experiments.’
A third wrote: ‘Which new direction? Unless & until you pay the fine coming your way, there is no direction. All current players suspended until fines are paid.”
A fourth said, ‘I hope you’re happy what a shower of s***e you’ve caused. Unreal.’