National League / Non League 2023/24

[muppetman]

I don't see them surviving this tbh.

So much money in football and yet it seems so little in the lower tiers.

Hard to know what combination of it being a tough industry, bad luck, poor decision making and outright wanker owners should shoulder the blame, but as ever, it's the fans that end up poorer.

 

[Gassin's finest]

So much money in football and yet it seems so little in the lower tiers.

Hard to know what combination of it being a tough industry, bad luck, poor decision making and outright wanker owners should shoulder the blame, but as ever, it's the fans that end up poorer.

In this case it was a bad owner, who bought the club while we were a Championship level club, and overspent on... well... everything. Sustaining a club of S****horpe's size in the Championship is impossible without incurring losses (9.5k capacity ground, 80k deindustrialised population). Its been a consistent slide down the ladder, stripping assets at every turn, to the point where the club was worthless and the only people willing to take on the debt are conmen or bad businessmen. The club as its will die, and maybe a phoenix club will start up, like Wimbledon or Darlington.

 

[muppetman]

In this case it was a bad owner, who bought the club while we were a Championship level club, and overspent on... well... everything. Sustaining a club of S****horpe's size in the Championship is impossible without incurring losses (9.5k capacity ground, 80k deindustrialised population). Its been a consistent slide down the ladder, stripping assets at every turn, to the point where the club was worthless and the only people willing to take on the debt are conmen or bad businessmen. The club as its will die, and maybe a phoenix club will start up, like Wimbledon or Darlington.

I guess it's a question of was the owner overly ambitious and not cautious enough or just malicious and uncaring.

My feeling is that clubs aren't businesses and trying to treat them as such is destined for unhappiness. However, until something akin to a level playing field is introduced with wage caps and similar there will always be an incentive to gamble.

Whatever happened with the review of football governance that was supposed to be happening?

 

[Gassin's finest]

I guess it's a question of was the owner overly ambitious and not cautious enough or just malicious and uncaring.

My feeling is that clubs aren't businesses and trying to treat them as such is destined for unhappiness. However, until something akin to a level playing field is introduced with wage caps and similar there will always be an incentive to gamble.

Whatever happened with the review of football governance that was supposed to be happening?

In the end, he clearly just wanted the land that the ground is sitting on.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Well, that escalated quickly...

https://www.s****horpe-united.co.uk/news/2023/september/club-update/

 

[Gassin's finest]

Crowdfunder for the club staff wages. Rough times:

 

[kursaal]

Southend United's nightmare is over. The sale of the club to Australian entrepreneur Jason Rees who heads a consortium of local businessmen.

The Shrimpers were due to back in the high court tomorrow and if they didnt pay in full the monies owed to HMCR they would have been wound up.

The rumours started early today that the sale of the club had been agreed and this was confirmed at 5 pm.

The Shrimpers game this evening would in all probability been called of it the sale wasnt confirmed as Essex police were concerned the protests would have turned violent.

You cannot imagine the relief and joy that Southend United have been saved.

I sincerly hope S****horpe United will also be saved. English football needs these 'minnows' every bit as much as the top clubs imo.

 

[Yiddo100]

Southend United's nightmare is over. The sale of the club to Australian entrepreneur Jason Rees who heads a consortium of local businessmen.

The Shrimpers were due to back in the high court tomorrow and if they didnt pay in full the monies owed to HMCR they would have been wound up.

The rumours started early today that the sale of the club had been agreed and this was confirmed at 5 pm.

The Shrimpers game this evening would in all probability been called of it the sale wasnt confirmed as Essex police were concerned the protests would have turned violent.

You cannot imagine the relief and joy that Southend United have been saved.

I sincerly hope S****horpe United will also be saved. English football needs these 'minnows' every bit as much as the top clubs imo.

Sthorpe saved

 

[HNIM]

Sthorpe saved

Judging by her LinkedIn profile, not so much. She'll have the club's interests in mind but she hardly seems to be the type to have the financial resources or expertise needed.

 

[Gassin's finest]

Well ok...

https://www.s****horpe-united.co.uk/news/2023/october/club-statement/

S****horpe United can confirm that a takeover has been completed for the club by local businesswoman Michelle Harness.

A current Director of the club, and former Commercial Manager of over 15 years at the Iron, Michelle has acquired the club from the outgoing David Hilton.

Following a busy few days of negotiations and putting plans in place, Michelle is delighted to be taking on the football club, saying: “I would like to thank everyone who assisted in the transaction, especially David Hilton.


“There are a lot of challenges and problems to overcome, but David has taken no fee for the club, and wiped all monies that he personally invested to enable this deal to happen. I wish him and his family all the best for the future, and I hope he finds some peace away from football.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the efforts of Simon Elliott, who has massively assisted in getting this deal over the line. There is now a lot of work to do behind the scenes to get our great football club back on track, and that work starts immediately with the fantastic team we have working for us, starting with the appointment of a new board.”

 

[Gassin's finest]

Judging by her LinkedIn profile, not so much. She'll have the club's interests in mind but she hardly seems to be the type to have the financial resources or expertise needed.

Harness is a respected business woman from Scunny, and has been on the board of directors for yonks. Genuine Iron fan. What she's good at is generating investment and revenue, and she'll manage the club sensibly. Unlike the last two conmen who were either asset stripping or using it as a tax write off. There is a right mess to clean up, but what you have now is someone capable of doing that pragmatically.

 

[kursaal]

So pleased for S****horpe. I hope it all goes well.

 

[muppetman]

Well ok...

https://www.s****horpe-united.co.uk/news/2023/october/club-statement/

Do the links not work because S****horpe is censored?

 

[Marty]

Do the links not work because S****horpe is censored?

Yes that would be why

 

[Gassin's finest]

Do the links not work because S****horpe is censored?

Yep. Blame AOL.

 

[Gassin's finest]

 

[Gassin's finest]

12 goals scored in the last 2 games, ground looking like being secured by mid November, the ground getting filled every game and the club shop selling out. Things are swinging the right way finally for Scunny.

 

[kursaal]

12 goals scored in the last 2 games, ground looking like being secured by mid November, the ground getting filled every game and the club shop selling out. Things are swinging the right way finally for Scunny.

I'm so pleased for Scunny and you. Your post really made me smile.

The situation at Scunny was identical to my 2nd love, Southend United. The deal for the consortium to buy the Shrimpers, led by a Australia goes through next month. Since this news broke Southend have been pilling up the points. Yesterday's draw at Boreham Wood ended a 4 match winning streak. My cousin's boy Jack Bridge scored our goal. Southend sold out their 1,300 allocation in no time.

Despite a year long teansfer embargo which means only 14 pro players and a 10 point deduction, Southend are only 6 points off the playoffs. They are averaging 6,500 home attendances and it's been confirmed the new owners will stay at Roots Hall.

Much better times ahead for two proud old SUFCs.

 

[muppetman]

I'm so pleased for Scunny and you. Your post really made me smile.

The situation at Scunny was identical to my 2nd love, Southend United. The deal for the consortium to buy the Shrimpers, led by a Australia goes through next month. Since this news broke Southend have been pilling up the points. Yesterday's draw at Boreham Wood ended a 4 match winning streak. My cousin's boy Jack Bridge scored our goal. Southend sold out their 1,300 allocation in no time.

Despite a year long teansfer embargo which means only 14 pro players and a 10 point deduction, Southend are only 6 points off the playoffs. They are averaging 6,500 home attendances and it's been confirmed the new owners will stay at Roots Hall.

Much better times ahead for two proud old SUFCs.

Is Stan Collymore involved in some way or have I imagined it?

 

[kursaal]

Is Stan Collymore involved in some way or have I imagined it?

He was but not with the new consortium.