The owner of Accrington Stanley has announced his departure as club chair, claiming there is a “vendetta” against the club.
In a statement on the club's website Andy Holt attacked Hyndburn Council and cited the long-running dispute over the club's hospitality venues as the reason for his departure.
The hospitality suites at the club were built in contravention of planning permission granted by the council.
In March, the club was banned from holding events with live or amplified music at its two function rooms following complaints about noise from nearby households, apart from during matchdays.
The club then took the decision to cancel all events due to take place at the stadium outside of matchdays.
Mr Holt handed back his Freeman of the Borough medal in December 2022 due to the dispute over noise from his hospitality venues, which do not abide by the conditions of the planning permission granted.
He claimed the “undermining of the club has gone on since day one” and that the council has a "vendetta" against the club.
He said: “This is the last straw.
"Accrington Stanley Ladies Day, an event that never happened until we started it, was held at Fence Gate during the daytime, whilst our multi-million pound facilities stand empty, in silence because of the council and councillors working against their club behind my back, as though I didn't know what was going on.
“The undermining of the club has gone on since day one. And I mean day one, long before I took the club on.
“The councillors voted to remove our planning permission because of the noise complaints. Following advice from the head planner, we paid to reapply, only for the councillors to turn it down again.
“After council advice to appeal and more wasted cash, they did the same.
“Not content, the council's staff snooped on the club to build evidence to put a noise abatement order on us.
“Not content with that, they removed our licence to sell alcohol on non-matchdays.
“It's been a vendetta, with some councillors actively working against their own club.
“Whether we had planning permission or not, they have powers to stop the club trading.
“Whether they stripped us of our licence or not, they still have the power to stop us trading.
“Now they have imposed conditions on matchdays that cannot possibly be adhered to.”
Mr Holt, who made his fortune through his What More plastics firm, said he will step back after the club’s season finale against Chesterfield on Saturday.
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Since he took over the club in 2015, Stanley earned promotion to League One in 2018, and stayed there until relegation to League Two in 2023.
Mr Holt added: “I'm not wasting any more of my life arguing with the council, councillors or MPs that should support the best asset in the town.
"If they can't see the blindingly obvious, that's their problem.
“I have done my 10 years after next week's home finale. We're safe, and having thrown many points away through naivety this season, we're a young team that is getting better.
“We have a great club, great staff, more organised than ever, run properly by two top managers, a great medical team, and rigid training routines.
“I'm so proud of what we've done as a team, turning Accrington Stanley Football Club into a professional club.
“It has the opportunity to feed the town for generations to come, if only the council, councillors and MPs support it.
“I've had a great 10 years, including with Coley and Jimmy. Players like Billy, Seamus, Yosser, and Seany will always hold a special place in my heart, as will the rest of them.
“In John and Ged, we have two top-quality professionals. Two of my friends.
“We have a great group of fans, they give everything for their club. I know many of them personally now, a major plus for me.
“I will end my time at the club in any executive capacity after the last game on Saturday.
“The club must become financially stable if the great future in front of it is to be realised.”
Hyndburn Council has been contacted for comment.
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