Opposition Independents on Nottinghamshire County Council call for authority to transfer cash to Notts County celebration after promotion from National League to Division 2

A call has been made by the opposition for a financial contribution to be made to an event to mark the return of Notts County to the Football League.

The Independent Alliance opposition group on Nottinghamshire County Council has called for the authority to back a celebration event to mark Notts County’s promotion, which was achieved through penalties at the National League play-off final at Wembley.

The subject has been controversial after Nottingham City Council initially said they couldn’t afford to finance a celebration.

Now, after a public backlash, they appear to be backtracking with plans for a summer event to mark the achievement.

Bingham county councillor Francis Purdue-Horan, a member of the Independent Alliance, has written to Nottinghamshire County Council’s chief executive Adrian Smith formally stating the authority should financially support any event and provide staffing.

In an email to Mr Smith, on behalf of the Independent Alliance, he put in a formal request that the county council “make a financial contribution to any event to ensure it is the best it can possibly be.”

He has also called for Nottinghamshire County Council’s events team and other staff to offer their help and assistance to any celebration.

Mr Ourdue-Horan, a councillor for Bingham East said, “The fact that the world’s oldest professional football club has just been promoted back to the Football League is a cause of celebration.

“It is our belief that this needs to happen sooner rather than later before fans go off on their summer holidays.

“It is only right that fans have the chance to celebrate.

It is our view that the county council should pick up some of the cost and offer staffing and expertise to any event.

“There are tens of thousands of Notts County fans who live across our county and the county council should pick up part of the bill to ensure this historic event is the best it can possibly be.

“Any event should be made up of people who actively contributed to the success of Notts County.”