Cllr Barry Rawlings was mistaken when he told the Barnet Society that Barnet Football Club was appealing against the rejection of its bid to build a stadium at Barnet Playing Fields reports David Floyd

A large field in the foreground with trees, blue sky and clouds in the distance — Barnet Playing Fields where Barnet FC hope to build their new stadium (Credit – David Floyd)

Fans of Barnet Football Club have reacted furiously after council leader Barry Rawlings made a second mistaken statement about the status of the club’s bid to return to the borough.

Cllr Rawlings had provoked confusion in the run up to July’s strategic planning committee where the club’s bid to build ‘New Underhill’ on a site close to its former home at Barnet Playing Fields was rejected.

At that point, the Labour leader had told a Conservative councillor: “I can’t decide where Barnet Football Club are going to put in a planning application. All that I will say is that three or four sites have been mentioned to them and we’re waiting for a response.”

However, in response to follow-up questions from Barnet Post, the council’s press team confirmed that this was not the case. On that occasion, a spokesperson said: “We have never offered Barnet FC alternative sites, rather, following an initial discussion with the club, we committed to exploring potential locations that could be considered further by them.”

Now Cllr Rawlings has prompted the ire of both the club and its fans by telling the Barnet Society that the club were in the process of appealing against the decision when, in fact, they are not currently doing so.

In a piece published by the Society on Sunday (5th), Nick Jones reports that: “Councillor Barry Rawlings, leader of the council, told the Barnet Society that planning officials were now assessing the grounds of which the club had launched its appeal.”

This prompted an emphatic denial from the club on Tuesday (7th). In a statement on its website, it said: “The article states that Councillor Barry Rawlings, leader of the council, told the Barnet Society that planning officials were now assessing the grounds of which the club had launched its appeal.

“The club can confirm that this is not the case and that no appeal has been lodged against the refusal of plans for a new stadium at Underhill.

“An appeal against the decision does not need to be submitted until next January and in the interim, the club are considering their options.”

Despite the apparent contradiction, in response to questions from Barnet Post, Barnet Council has confirmed that the positions of both Barnet Society and Barnet Football Club are correct.

A council spokesperson said the authority has: “has not received any notification to confirm whether an appeal has been lodged” regarding the club’s application.

However, explaining Cllr Rawlings’ statement to the Barnet Society, the spokesperson said: “This appears to be a misunderstanding. When asked by an individual member of the public at a community event in an informal conversation, the leader said he had heard there was an appeal.”

This latest off the cuff gaffe from Cllr Rawlings prompted fury from Bring Barnet Back, a group of Barnet FC fans campaigning for the club’s return to the borough.

In a statement posted in its What’s App group on Tuesday, the group slammed the council leader’s comments and suggested it will now seek to make the unresolved relocation an issue in next year’s council elections.

The statement said: “we are deeply concerned by a second instance of public disinformation from the leader of Barnet Council regarding New Underhill in recent months.”

It added: “the sincerity of the council leader’s ‘open door’ policy is undermined by these public comments and the lack of engagement in private correspondence.”

It concludes: “Unless there is a shift towards a more honest and constructive approach, it will be difficult for the campaign not to consider a more direct political strategy ahead of the May 2026 local elections to ensure the matter of the club’s return is properly addressed by all who seek public office.”

When asked by Barnet Post what wider steps the council was taking to engage with Barnet Football Club regarding its bid to move back the borough, a spokesperson said: “We’ve always said we’d welcome the club back to the borough if a suitable location can be found. However, we are not currently engaged in conversation with Barnet FC on potentially suitable sites in the borough.”

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