A COUNCILLOR has hit back at a Tranent businessman who withdrew funding for the town's Christmas lights over "abuse" he received for a controversial football club signing, as she accused him of spitting "his dummy out".

Councillor Lee-Anne Menzies, ward member for Tranent, Wallyford and Macmerry, was responding to comments made by Matthew Wright, co-owner of property group MPACT, who last week said he would no longer be providing funding for the town's festive illuminations.

MPACT has paid for the display for the past six years by donating about £20,000 each winter. Mr Wright, who lives in the town, says he has invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in the community over the years.

In 2023, his company pledged to finance the lights for another two years.

But Mr Wright, who was a key backer at Lowland League football club Tranent FC, confirmed that the company had now withdrawn support for the Xmas lights "and the community as a whole".

READ MORE: Tranent Xmas lights funding axed after football club signing 'abuse'

He said that his decision was a result of abuse he had received when he was involved with Tranent FC after the club signed a player who would later appear in court on domestic abuse charges.

Last June, Tranent FC sacked their newly signed player Jordon Forster, once of Hibernian, following a public backlash against his club, who had supported him despite his guilty pleas to domestic abuse charges.

Forster, 29, had initially been backed by club bosses but the board backtracked and admitted making a “mistake” supporting the player.

Tranent FC chiefs initially stated they wanted to help the former Hibs star with his “reformation” but a statement was later issued from from the club to say that Forster’s contract has been terminated.

Mr Wright told the Courier last week that the decision to withdraw funding from the town's lights display, and the community as a whole,  was “personal”.

He said: “What I’ve done for the community over the years runs into hundreds of thousands of pounds of investment into Tranent since I moved here.

“There was a certain situation when I was part of the football club when we signed a certain individual last year that had pending charges that we didn’t know anything about; the person lied to us.

“So when we got the guilty verdict and he left the football club, certain people on that community council board and certain [East Lothian Council] councillors, [gave us] stick and personal abuse, hence the reason I left the football club and I’ve decided to withdraw my support from the community as a whole."

READ MORE: Former Hibs star banned from contacting his ex-partner

He added: "We made a mistake: he had a charge pending for domestic abuse. We were getting it from all angles and it was completely unfair.

“On a personal level, I’m someone who will wholeheartedly completely condemn that sort of behaviour. But the threats to people, it was disgusting. Tranent [FC] were [even apparently] getting removed from [their ground] Foresters Park and everything [because of it]. It was disgusting.

“Hence the reason I left the club and hence I’m withdrawing all community funding. Simple.

“Our social responsibility is extremely important to us as a business and to my values but, unfortunately, sadly, that will not be the community in Tranent. It’s extremely sad but it is what it is.”

Unless other funding can be found, it seems that the much-loved Christmas lights display, organised by the town's community council, will have to be significantly scaled back.

'Spat his dummy out'

Responding to Mr Wright’s comments, Ms Menzies – who at the time was critical of the football club signing Forster – said: “I know there was a bit of excitement when it was announced that Jordon was coming to the club. I didn’t hold that excitement at all because of his actions in his personal life.

“So I emailed the club on a few occasions, I exchanged emails with Matty - I made it very clear that I disagreed with their initial decision to bring him on to the club.

“And then I think they realised that actually there was a lot more people who felt the same way and they then decided they had to let him go.

“It’s disgusting that he received abuse – I wasn’t aware of any abuse. I was aware of a definite kickback in the club’s decision.

“If there was abuse then that’s wrong – that’s as wrong as the abuse that Jordon Forster committed. I don’t condone any of it.

“We drew a line under it when the club made the right decision – I thought we had all moved on at that point.

“Why would he withdraw support from the Christmas lights over something that happened a year ago? It just doesn’t make sense to me.

“Something just isn’t sitting right. It seems to be quite a petty response.

“It sounds like he has spat his dummy out.

“What he has said clearly points to me – I was the only councillor that came forward and was public about it.

“But I’ve never been abusive, to him or to anyone else. It just hasn’t happened.”

'Plan B'

Meanwhile, fellow ward councillor Colin McGinn pledged to do what he could to help the community council still bring a lights display to the town at Christmas.

He said: “I’ve known Matthew for a long time.

“There is no space for personal abuse and, if anyone has indulged in that, I would be really, really disappointed and it's certainly not something that I would support or take part in.

“I know what it takes to get these community events off the ground and running, and I know that we need support from the community, from businesses, from individuals, and it’s sad if somebody feels they can’t support the community council because of things that have happened.

“If somebody else has indulged in that kind of behaviour, it has an impact.

"I’m going to support the community council as best I can, I will support the community councils right across my ward, and this is no different.

“I’m sure Tranent community council will come up with a plan B.

“The Christmas lights really cheer everybody up.”