Freebie Friday: What can be done to stop clubs disappearing under debt mountains
Struggles of Southend and Scunthorpe under the microscope
The great beauty about football at every level is there is always something to write about, it’s never a struggle. Sometimes the only issue is getting content out in a timely fashion before it’s either taken another twist or something else catches the eye and it becomes the toss of a coin.
This week we’ve seen the real life struggles of both Scunthorpe Utd and Southend Utd in the National League while at the same time the release of ‘Gate Money’ over the infamous distribution of cash to Step 1 and 2 clubs during the lost years of football, that in itself will form another blog for the paid subscribers next week.
Whilst a good majority of the country have their eyes on the World Cup non-league football hasn’t stopped and this week has just highlighted once again the differences between the rich and the rest in football. Those of you reading are probably aware that both clubs haven’t just been struggling off the pitch this season, it’s been years in the making for these two and there are many others whose problems haven’t been splashed everywhere yet sailing the same boat.
The drop into the National League is an unforgiving one, nine times out of ten those falling through the relegation trapdoor is down to mismanagement off the pitch, be that through financial struggles or poor appointments of managers not cut out for the level and down they go.
As Oldham and Scunthorpe have seen for themselves in just four months and many have before it’s a ‘bastard’ league to get back out of at the right end of the table, with only two going up there is a huge bottleneck forming now which is another issue that needs to be addressed.
Despite receiving parachute payments for two years after relegation that might offset some losses but it’s the whole perception that has to change through a club to survive these times and you have to move with it.
Off field struggles have plagued Southend for a number of years, it’s not a new thing but disheartening to see, especially after they eventually got themselves together on the pitch last season and are currently enjoying a decent season so far.
Scunthorpe appear to have a chink of light late this week with a takeover bid seemingly on it’s way to be accepted and new owners in charge. Whilst it’s a huge start, there is a long way to go on the pitch and like Southend last season just surviving in the top non-league division is the aim.
Southend it appears have a long way to go, a third month without staff being paid especially in the run up to Xmas makes you wonder how long the situation can go on there before people say enough is enough, is the solution to strike or find some other ways to resolve it?
Striking though only ends up with the club getting fined, possible points deduction which then doesn’t help the on field matters but somehow things need to change to stop dragging fans, good people and ultimately good clubs through the mill.
I’m well in favour of a regulator for the game. It’s well overdue and with the FA seemingly allowing the Premier League to dictate how the game is run now in this country they need reining in. I know they won’t like it but year by the year the rest of the game is slowly being eroded by the financial gain of the ‘elite’.
People will point to big budgets in the National League as well for those trying to escape, it has come to that point below too where financial big guns are trying in some ways to replicate that.
You and I both know the top clubs will resist anything that stops or slows down them getting richer but in my opinion there should be enough wealth around for all to compete and live more within their means.
Whilst at Barnet we do criticise Tony Kleanthous for being to frugal sometimes the club hasn’t been in debt to my knowledge in his 25 odd years of tenure, something to be grateful for when you see everyone else’s problems going on.
As always, would love to hear everyone’s else thoughts on how to find a way around clubs ending up in this mess before we do actually lose one or two at any level, it’s always a lot of people who will end up missing out at the expense of very few.
I am expecting that over the next 12 months we will read more stories like this. Legally having not been paid for three months, the business is in breach of contract. The employees do not have to turn up. They can take their employer to court, or issue a winding up notice. The club is on very thin ice.
It's a wonder the National League haven't stepped in yet to advise at the very least. While that seems a very reasonable thing for employees to do you never or very rarely see it happen in football, but something needs to happen to stop more going the same way.