Members at Sheldon Ivy Leaf fail to block club sale
A BIRMINGHAM social club faces an uncertain future after it was sold from under the feet of its members.
Brewing giant Carlsberg struck a deal to sell the cash-strapped Ivy Leaf Club in Sheldon to claw back £200,000 in debts from the committee.
Bosses revealed last month that they faced a race against time to stave off the sale and were speaking to investors in a bid to attract finance.
But disappointed president Barry Emmett today revealed the committee’s desperate attempts to rescue the club from private ownership had failed. Official papers confirming the sale of the club were expected to be signed within the next week, he said.
The imminent deal will bring to an end 60 years of tradition at the Coventry Road club, which has been owned and run by its 1,150 members since the day it first opened.
Mr Emmett said he believed the new owners, who have not been named, planned to run the popular three-storey venue as a members’ club and function suite for the foreseeable future.
“It’s very disappointing it has come to this after all this time,” he said.
“Over the years we have been involved, we have tried our hardest to do what is right for the club and the members.
“We understand the three-man consortium which has bought the club plans to continue running it in its current state.
“I understand one of them is a local man.
