This post has already been read 800 times!
Club chairman Peter McCormack said he would cease negotiations
A council has blamed a drafting error after a non-league football club was told women would be banned from playing at the ground.
Real Bedford was granted a 15-year lease in April but said new terms from Bedford Council, which include a rent increase, were unreasonable.
Club chairman Peter McCormack said he would cease negotiations and called on Bedford mayor Tom Wootton to resign.
The council said it was an error and its new terms did not reference gender.
The football club has demanded Tom Wootton resign for how he handled the situation
The club claimed the council asked for £10,000 per annum in rent for a period of three years.
That rent would then increase by a further £10,000 every year after the third annual anniversary of the agreement.
Mr McCormack said the council threatened to terminate the club's lease if the ground was used for anything other than "senior men's first-team football".
The chairman called it a "direct attack" on the women's team and said the terms were "not only unreasonable but discriminatory".
He said there were also "vague termination clauses that give the council undue power to evict us".
He called on the mayor to resign immediately due to "his unacceptable handling of this matter, specifically with the effective ban he wants to place on women's football".
A council spokesperson confirmed the authority had given a 15-year lease at McMullen Park to Real Bedford with a break clause at three years.
"This decision was made in accordance with our procedure for lease renewals. There was a drafting error which was rectified within half an hour of the initial issue being raised to include all football. A new terms of reference is ready to send.
"We know the importance of sports across our borough – from benefits in health, fitness, and wellbeing. Approving this new lease we hope gives the club a great opportunity to grow and develop," a spokesperson said.
New terms sent to the club do not mention a restriction on the gender of footballers.
Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on Facebook, external, Instagram, external and X, external. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830
Club owner: 'I explained league system to investors'
Non-league club has gone global, says new owner
'Universal is fantastic if we get infrastructure'
Real Bedford
"My mould-ridden home has made my baby so ill she can't even live with me anymore" – watch below
Boy, nine, to have his first haircut in TWO YEARS at 10th birthday party
How hot it will be in Buckinghamshire as the ‘Saharan Plume’ approaches UK?
Hospital ‘bleep’ to be replaced by phone app in east and north Herts
Inclusive jobs fair coming to St Albans
Inside the 'rundown' London estates once dubbed 'utopias'
Israel war cabinet minister vows to quit if there is no post-war plan for Gaza
Taiwan's steely leader rewrote the book on how to deal with China
Usyk beats Fury to become undisputed champion
Ukraine's defence lines stretched as Russian troops advance
Israel troops posting abuse footage despite pledge to act
Modi’s India: A decade of popularity and polarisation
'We were all under water': Afghans tell BBC of devastating flooding
Weekly quiz: Why are puffins causing an international row?
Why Biden might be happy to debate Trump in June
Meghan mania and big skirts: Africa's top shots
Scientists may have solved mystery of Egyptian pyramids' construction
Life-size family photos win top prize
Are you ready to rock through time?
Watch the brand new trailer for the new series of Doctor Who
A terrifying adventure in the far future
Can the Doctor and Ruby save a baby farm run by babies from the terrifying bogeyman?
Go behind the scenes…
Join Steffan Powell as he gets the keys to the TARDIS and exclusive access to the Whoniverse
Unmissable aftershow analysis
Join Nadie Jae and Shabaz Ali in the newly regenerated Official Doctor Who Podcast
© 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.