Harrogate Town has restricted media from attending a fans’ forum with its new owners.

Last month, the club announced that first team manager Simon Weaver and local businessman Jonathan Blezard had become co-owners of Town.

The move marked the end of an era as Simon’s father, Irving Weaver, relinquished the chairmanship after overseeing a period of unprecedented success since he acquired the club in 2011.

It also marks a step change for the club, which is hoping to regain its English Football League status at the end of this season.

Weaver and Blezard, along with new managing director, Karen Tyson, and Hamilton Mattock, fan engagement manager, are due to appear at the forum at Oatlands Club tonight to answer questions from supporters.

However, when the Stray Ferret applied for a ticket to the attend the event, a club official told us that the forum was “not open to members of the media” following a board decision.

The Stray Ferret has attended the club's fans' forums in previous years and reported on the issues raised in them.

When we asked why the board had taken the decision for this forum, they said that “we want to establish a clear priority of communication with our supporters, and for any information from the fans forum to be communicated by ourselves primarily”.

The club official said we could attend as a supporter, but requested that nothing is reported from the event until a YouTube recording of the forum is published tomorrow (November 4).

We were told that this request was not made specifically of the media, but would be an “expectation” that is communicated to everyone attending the event.

Wider changes

The move comes as Blezard and Weaver’s ownership of Harrogate Town has led to significant changes in the past month.

According to Companies House, both were appointed as directors of Town on October 16.

Meanwhile, Howard Matthews' 24-year term as a director ended on October 16.

Companies House also confirms FC Company Holdings Limited — the company Mr Blezard and Mr Weaver set up — succeeded Irving Weaver as "persons with significant control" on October 16.

However, Irving Weaver remains a director.

Simon Weaver has spent 17 years with the club. Mr Blezard, however, is a new face. A club press release announcing the takeover news said the Angstrom Sports founder “brings significant business and sporting experience” and “intends to play an active role in the club's development”.

It added both new owners “have committed material financial support, with the ownership structure meeting the relevant regulatory requirements”.