Club statement: Transfer embargo

Scunthorpe United is delighted to confirm further progress in the efforts to move the football club back on track.

Owner and chairperson Michelle Harness and Chief Executive Officer Lee Turnbull have both worked tirelessly, and have been in constant dialogue with the National League, to ensure the Iron have been moving to comply with their restrictions and move the team out of an embargo.

With a historic HMRC backlog now satisfied, and a continuous evidencing of United’s cashflow and payments provided throughout the current tenure, the Iron can begin to move another step forward in the side’s quest for sustainability. 

The National League confirmed on Monday morning that, subject to a continuance of the Iron’s endeavours in rectifying and satisfying the volume of historic debt, the side can move forward out of an embargo for the very first time under the current ownership.

Speaking following the news, Michelle said: “We are delighted that we’ve been able to take another massive step since taking over the football club, to bring the club out of an embargo which has been in place since before we took ownership.

“Jimmy Dean and his staff have worked under massive constraints, which have resulted in us losing players we would have liked to have retained, and transfer targets we have been unable to bring in, which would have enhanced the group of players we have here at the moment. As a result of not being able to bring in reinforcements, the squad has at times been stretched, and also lacked competition for places, and the finances of the football club have dictated that loan recalls have only been activated when absolutely necessary.

“As we move forward, we will continue to support Jimmy and the staff to help strengthen the squad we have where we can. Ultimately, any business we do manage to complete will be as a result of us also safeguarding the future of the future club and the eventual sustainability that we are striving to create. To do this, there will inevitably be an element of balancing the books to ensure we remain on track to achieve this.”