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08
Nov
5 things we learned from Harrogate Town's first fans' forum under new owners
The new owners of Harrogate Town appeared before their first fans’ forum this past week, where they were quizzed by supporters.
Simon Weaver and Jonathan Blezard, who took over as co-owners last month, were asked questions on player trading, Towns planned training ground and the owner’s plans.
The two-hour long event, which was held at the Oatlands Club in Harrogate, was recorded and broadcast on YouTube and was the first time the new owners had addressed supporters.
Here are five things we learned from the event.
Player trading
Mr Blezard, who previously founded Angstrom Sports, which specialised in sports modelling, forecasting and analytics, told the audience at Oatlands that the club made a decision to reduce the overall age of the squad.
The Town chairman said the decision was made to help “aid the long term health of the club” and that the recruitment team had looks towards a data led approach for transfers.
Jonathan Blezard (left) and Simon Weaver
Mr Blezard said part of the strategy would be to recruit young players and then sell them later to “help the club survive”.
He said:
That is one of the very few routes to generating revenue as a club at this level.
But, Mr Blezard added that the strategy did not mean selling the club's best players every season.
Three year plan
Mr Blezard said the new owners were currently working to a “three year vision” for Harrogate Town.
He told supporters:
I think if my career in studying sport has taught me anything it’s that thinking any more than three years out would be pretty futile and probably a distraction from the here and now.
Mr Blezard added that it was the hope of the new owners that other investors may come in to help invest in over the medium term.
Return to the EFL
Mr Blezard told supporters that the management team sat down in the summer and set a target to finish in the National League play offs.
Town were relegated from EFL League Two last season after six seasons in the English Football League.
Mr Blezard said:
In the short-term, the goal is to return to the EFL as soon as possible. We are ambitious people and we want to be successful.
However, Mr Blezard said the club wanted to gain promotion in a way which would help Town be competitive in League Two in the coming years.
Pitch before training ground
As previously reported, Mr Blezard addressed a question from a supporter on the prospect of a new training facility for Town.
The club and Wetherby Steeplechase Committee Ltd submitted plans to Leeds City Council in December 2025 to build a £2.75 million training facility at Wetherby Racecourse, including a clubhouse and pitches.
A wide image of the clubhouse and football pitches at Harrogate Town's planned training ground.
However, the proposals were withdrawn in May this year — the same month Town were relegated to the National League.
Mr Blezard said a training ground remained a “long-term ambition” but was not something the club was “re-engaging with right now”.
He added that Town had “more pressing” priorities, such as the pitch at Wetherby Road.
Mr Weaver said improving the quality of the pitch at Wetherby Road would help the first team, but also the women and junior sides.
Who is the manager accountable to?
One supporter asked how the governance of the club would now work, including how would a change of first team manager in the future work if Mr Weaver is also on the board.
Mr Blezard said he would oversee the board, which included ensuring that Mr Weaver was able to “separate his two responsibilities”.
Simon Weaver, Harrogate Town manager. Picture: Harrogate Town.
He said there would be “absolutely no problem” with Mr Weaver ceasing to be first team manager either through his own decision or that of the board.
Mr Blezard said it was “on him” to hold the first team manager accountable.
He added:
Ultimately the buck stops with me and I am responsible for the board.
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