Boston's boss in new rescue plan

Barrie Pierpoint will reveal more about his plans on Sunday

Boston United chief executive Barrie Pierpoint is standing down so that he can push ahead with plans to rescue the troubled club.

He was originally brought in by a mystery consortium ahead of an anticipated takeover.

But with talks apparently deadlocked after six months of negotiations, Mr Pierpoint has quit so that he can develop an alternative rescue package.

Boston have been demoted to Blue Square North after breaching regulations.

Mr Pierpoint has linked up with the Pilgrims' long-serving general manager John Blackwell to try to form a consortium to rescue the club.

'Meaningful' negotiations

They said their plan would be a safeguard if the Leeds-based Standing Alone group fails in its bid to buy Boston from current owners Lavaflow.

A public meeting will be held at the club's York Street ground on Sunday at 1130 BST when Mr Pierpoint will give fans more details.

He is a former chief executive of Leicester City and was voted DHL Boss of the Year UK in 1998.

Meanwhile the Standing Alone consortium has insisted it still hopes to take over the club.

A spokesman said: "Any suggestion that the talks have collapsed is incorrect."

He added that "meaningful and constructive" negotiations were continuing and Standing Alone "remains committed, at this stage, to gaining control of the football club and keeping it alive."

The Pilgrims were relegated from the Football League on the last day of the season.

They have since been demoted from Blue Square Premier after breaching regulations on debts to other football clubs.