FLEETWOOD TOWN owner Andy Pilley has claimed a Jeremy Corbyn victory in today’s General Election would leave the League One side in ruins.
The Lancashire team have rapidly climbed the football pyramid off the back of investment from Pilley and his riches from the energy industry.
Labour leader Corbyn (left) and Fleetwood chief Pilley (right) appear not to be political allies
The Trawlermen sit ninth in League OneCredit: PA:Empics Sport
As the owner of BES Utilities, Pilley released a series of videos via Fleetwood’s official Twitter account in which he says Labour policy would lead to massive job cuts and slash his ability to fund the team.
The 49-year-old, who defended his use of the club to promote the Conservatives at the General Election, said: “What would happen to the football club is it will virtually, definitely lose its league status if the Labour Party was to be elected because the football club would lose its funding.
“The football club would lose its funding from BES which is my core business.
“So it’s very much in best the interests of Fleetwood Town that the Labour Party are not elected and the Conservatives are elected and they continue to back business and ultimately Fleetwood Town.”
Corbyn has promised to bring companies that control the UK’s energy infrastructure back under state control as part of a £62billion election pledge, aimed at ending fuel poverty and tackling climate change.
Critics suggest it is an expensive overreach of government power.
According to Pilley, it will also put at risk “hundreds and hundreds” of jobs in the local area.
He continued: “There is a real danger that, if the Labour Party are elected, then their manifesto clearly states that the energy industry would be nationalised.
“And that would mean the loss of hundreds and hundreds of jobs locally.”
Pilley, who is from Blackpool, has attracted criticism from some corners of his club’s fanbase for vocally backing Conservative candidate for Lancaster and Fleetwood, Louise Thistlethwaite.
She is contesting a seat held by Labour MP and shadow cabinet minister Cat Smith, whose majority increased to 6,661 in 2017. The Green Party, Brexit Party and Liberal Democrats are also standing candidates.
Jeremy Corbyn casts his vote as the country goes to the polls in the UK’s 2019 General Election
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
