When I joined the Co-op board around 6 years ago, the first meeting I attended was with Steve Bellis and Jon Keighren.
The Club was in an absolutely dire state and I was pretty sure it was curtains. I think the major share holders were close to throwing in the towel. Ryan McKnight had just been shown the door, the Club was a mess on and off the field and had posted horrendous, unustainable losses (£550k p.a.).
When I sat down with Steve, he gave me the confidence that the ship could and would be turned around. Together with Jon Keighren, they outlined clear objectives and a vision, outlined in the 'Moving Forward' document. Not all these objectives were achieved, but most were, culminating in the sale of the Club to Mark Stott.
During this time Steve (along with others) helped secure the acquisition of Edgeley Park by the Council. Ensuring that the Club could pay a sustainable level of rent. Other good County people were brought on board as Directors - and made major contributions.
We saw slow, but gradual year on year improvement, with more invested in the playing budget, as the Club was grown organically, attendances increased season on season and Jim Gannon returned and delivered success on the pitch.
I haven't always agreed with Steve and we had our disagreements, but I think it's fair to say that the Club has always moved in the right direction when he has been involved - both in the 90's when our fan base was developed with the Healthy Living Scheme in the schools and again after Spencer Fearn and Ryan McKnight left.
Steve is a credit to Stockport County and I'm delighted that the new owners have made him Club President!