It looks like Stockport County could be the first to topple in the house of cards. It is a sad story of a club that has existed for 125 years but now stands on the brink of extinction. Luton, Bournemouth, Watford, Southampton and others have peered into the abyss and stepped back from the brink, but Stockport have already parted with Edgeley Park and most of their playing staff, so have nothing left to sell and only their souls to mortgage. And whilst souls can be saved, they are not accepted as surety on loans by anybody other than Satan.
The fans have done what they can to save the club, backing a supporters trust which has mismanaged the club, and conducting their own version of the Jarrow march, albeit the lazy buggers only made it as far as Manchester - hardly a yomp of epic proportions! The Council are looking the other way of course, offering no help whatsoever. Lesbian Mothers With Wooden Legs can claim grants, as can museums and ballet companies, but heaven forbid that a football club receive financial support, even though it is at the heart of a local community.
I remember Stockport from my childhood in Yeovil as one of those clubs - along with Rochdale, Workington and Bradford PA - who were perennially re-elected to the Football League at the expense of Yeovil Town's elevation. I had no love for them then, but I know a guy whose passion for the club sees him journey up from Surrey each weekend to cheer on his boys. It seems criminal that such passionate support may all be for nothing.
But the possible demise of Stockport County should be a warning to us all. Portsmouth's financial woes are well documented as are our own. Liverpool are struggling to service their debts and even Manchester United have had to bank a great chunk of the Ronaldo transfer fee to stay afloat. Remember, the banks were ok until the first one folded, then the whole lot would have collapsed without the government bail outs. Personally, I would prefer financial support for Stockport over support for the likes of RBS! Especially if the demise of Stockport County threatened to topple the whole house of cards!
I wish Stockport County well. For their fans and for the whole of football.
2 comments:
Its sad old times for a lot of clubs that for sure its all about money now
I read more about this kinda stuff than you do about what happens on a Saturday
When will the the FA wake up football is dieing a slow death things have to change
Still hope Portsmouth go down tho but i would say that.....
COME ON YOU SAINTS
Football seems to be very much like banking, we are told there's more and more money to be made and spent or lent and borrowed. The Banks found out there was no foundation under what they built, Football may be about to go the same way.
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