Fans send a big warning to Matlock Town after controversial businessman David Hilton takes control of the newly relegated club.
David Hilton has gained full control of Matlock after a record-breaking supporters’ ballot, with over 80% voting and a strong majority backing his takeover, despite his reputation.
They expressed delight at the high turnout and support. Meanwhile, Scunthorpe fans, and many others within the Englihs football community have certainly made their feelings known after hearing this news coming through…
Rest in Peace Matlock Town.
Despite all the warnings … https://t.co/JuTh8gVcMZ
— THE DECK (@TheDeckNews) April 25, 2025
MATLOCK STATEMENT:
We can confirm that the voting period has now ended for Matlock Town season ticket holders to decide the future of the club’s ownership.
We are delighted with the amount of votes we have received and can confirm that it has broken all records by a significant margin compared to all previous member votes.
Over 80 per cent of members have taken the time to register a vote at such an important time, deciding the club’s future.
We can also confirm that it was decided by vast majority in favour of David Hilton taking full control of the football club.
We will be passing on all of the information to the club’s solicitor in order for them to impartially validate the vote outcome and then the restructure will immediately take place.
Mr Hilton will be carrying out an interview in due course discussing the current season and his plans to move the club forward.
He has also requested that we invite all supporters to attend a fans forum in the not too distant future at the Proctor Cars Stadium. We will confirm the date of this in due course.
Meanwhile, Martin Harrison, the former chairman of Matlock Town, has questioned whether a £200,000 donation to the Gladiators by entrepreneur David Hilton was actually a gift.
He was appointed as chairman of Matlock Town in August 2024, only to quit in November in protest at Hilton investing the money in October, saying there is “evidence” that the cash was “never a donation”.
Harrison expressed being concerned for the future of the club in an interview with BBC Radio Derby leading up to the deadline on Friday (April 25) on a vote whether members should relinquish club to Hilton, or continue as a fan-led club.
Harrison said: “I put my heart and soul put into fixing things that were wrong with club. Because of Dave Hilton’s involvement with the football club I couldn’t be involved any more and resigned.
“There is evidence that the £200,000 was never a donation, it was £200,000 that was, let’s say, invested. It was not a donation. The PR that is coming out of the club is trying to present something that is factually incorrect.
Leading up to the vote, Harrison said: “I think the whole thing isn’t right. Members are being forced into a decision. From Dave Hilton’s first involvement I’ve been worried. I feel sad and worried for the future of the club.”
A statement from Matlock Town said: “Mr Hilton is not named [as a director] on Companies House purely because he’s not yet a director of the club. His initial role has been advisory due to his connections with the club’s board as has seen him make donations to help improve the playing squad.
“He has passed the FA’s Owners and Directors test for if, and when, the takeover goes through. If members vote for him not to be involved then he’ll walk away without asking for any money back. If he is voted to remain, he’ll continue to invest, but wants 100% control of where his money will go as he doesn’t want any decisions to be hampered by red tape.
“Since the initial proposal of 75% ownership was put forward it has been established that there is a great deal more to sort out if the club is to progress, not least issues with the adjacent cricket club which need to be resolved if Matlock are to get relevant ground gradings in future.
“Any private investor has aspirations to go higher and it’s no difference in this case. Any club that wants to progress can’t be run by the goodwill of volunteers and any investor has a right to own it.”
David Hilton, former owner of Scunthorpe United and ex-chairman of Ilkeston Town, faces scrutiny as he considers taking over Matlock Town, known as the Gladiators.
His controversial past includes a 2023 revelation of serving nine months of a two-year sentence for 15 fraud counts totaling £68,000, which he repaid.
An investigation by The Athletic uncovered Hilton’s name changes (from David White to David Anderson, then David Hilton) and dissolved companies under his previous names.
Convicted in 2015, Hilton admitted to keeping council refuse skip proceeds during a personal crisis following failed property ventures and a suicide attempt.
He sold Scunthorpe United in October 2023 after financial withdrawal, with the club later saved by Michelle Harness.
As mentioned, fans send a big warning to Matlock Town after the controversial businessman David Hilton takes control of the newly relegated club…
@_mattyholt: Remarkable this man is allowed to control yet another football club. The FA’s ‘Fit and Proper’ test once again laughable in all of this. Good luck @Matlock_TownFC 🫣
@sufc_mike: God help them. Hopefully what he did here at Scunny will allow Matlock fans to be much more sceptical of his every decision than most of us were here (myself included).
@nickadams3497: Genuinely curious if anyone voted against this 🤔
@TheDB30: Joe Cala, Raj Singh, David Hilton. How many more charlatans are gonna get their grubby mits on football clubs on multiple occasions? Fit and proper test is probably conducted by someone who’s clock watching on a Friday afternoon and has no effort left in them.
@aroundgroundsss: How? Who’s let this happened? Look at the mess caused at scunny, yet he’s allowed to probably do it again. This is madness
@ryanmiddleton21: Big big big mistake by the fans of @Matlock_TownFC here. He WILL destroy your football club and is NOT to be trusted. Shame on the FA and the other ‘governing’ bodies for even allowing it to get this far. Disgraceful 🤦♂️
@sambingham2708: What a stupid, stupid decision.
@Lancsiron: Good luck to them… Let’s hope the Turkey’s haven’t voted for Christmas 🎄
@Scunnylado: End of your club 😬
@Ironforever99: Crazy bastards actually voting him in, can’t say they wasn’t warned but they deserve everything that’s gonna happen now.
@PhilTooley: A very sad day at Causeway Lane.
@johnnhendo: They’re absolutely fucked then , this person shouldn’t be allowed near a football club
@tthew_son: clear they can’t continue without private investment, shame it has to be this convicted fraudster who has previously driven ilkeston and scunthorpe into the ground
