(Langford, B.C.) – The City of Langford is taking a stand in response to comments made by Pacific FC (PFC) President Josh Simpson. While the city prides itself on supporting the soccer club, claims that working with the city has been anything but simple are raising eyebrows.

Langford has been actively supportive of PFC since the onset of their collaboration, even going as far as relocating utility poles to enhance field usability. However, a staggering debt of over $90,000 looms over PFC, which includes unpaid office rent, stadium fees, and game-related costs. Not to mention, PFC has failed to remit vital service charges intended for stadium upkeep.

In an even more significant twist, PFC owes nearly $691,478 under its agreement for the Indoor Training Centre—an amount the city has withheld in a hopeful gesture of partnership, waiting for a productive negotiation for a long-term stadium use contract.

But that’s not all. The club's financial woes extend to local businesses, where PFC owes more than $24,000 to both a field operator and a food vendor. Despite the stadium’s policy requiring rent payments upfront, the city has allowed for some leniency, prioritizing a collaborative atmosphere over strict enforcement of penalties.

Unfortunately, it appears PFC has been largely uncommunicative until its own renewal time arrives, a pattern seen since they opted against renewing the previous five-year agreement.

Langford is not just playing hardball; they’re also striking up some generous deals, including free ad space on city digital boards, increased advertising shares up to 100%, and even providing portable bleachers for PFC's latest match—all while preparing to hold a referendum on stadium expansion at the city’s expense.

However, despite these goodwill gestures, negotiations for a balanced long-term agreement have seen little progress, as PFC continues to request reduced rental rates that raise concerns under local community statutes.

"Langford has always been proud to host Pacific FC and support its growth in our community," said Mayor Scott Goodmanson. "We’ve made every effort to be fair and flexible. While the recent comments are disappointing, our primary focus remains on the residents of Langford and managing public resources responsibly. Our door is always open for a good-faith partnership, but we will protect taxpayer interests at all costs.”

The message is clear: the City of Langford is committed to supporting Pacific FC, but it will not shy away from taking decisive actions to safeguard its taxpayers if the situation deteriorates.