totally agree mate the FA has to do something, they need to stop owners of grounds charging high rent and they must keep closer eye on income v wages and transfer fees, Down the A38 Argyle spent over and above what they could afford, giving out 10k 5 yr deals to players that arent league 2 standard let alone champ, then they decided the only way out the hole was a world cup host bid, (we all no what happened there) so Argyle were 18 mill in dept, in admin with Risdale in charge, we beat them and sent them to league 2 they are bottom of L2, its a reminder that if you gamble on the promise land and fail you could lose everything and more, R+D it was out of there hands, and seems kettering could go the same way
our season well we finished 8th in league 1 last year (our highest ever position) hoped we would push on from there, but we lost our 4 best players, Harley (now at brighton) cureton (20 goals last season) Taylor (now at Charlton) and Jones (at the posh) we just couldnt afford the wages they wanted, atm we are 20 but under Tisdale we always do better second half of the season, but TBH anywhere from 20 up will do me fine lol
hows your season shaping up mate?
I simply don't understand it. Clubs like ourselves are the bread and better of English football when it comes down to it. We breed good players, teams like yourselves buy our players (which benefits both clubs longterm each time that happens) then they perform well for an Exeter/similar side, then jump to the Prem. If the FA aren't prepared to intervene when these kinds of clubs find themselves in such severe financial difficulty, whether it be their own fault or not, I'm not really sure where English football will be in 30 years?
Simeon Jackson is a good example of that (although he's Canadian) - he was superb at our place via the youth system. He got a big cash deal to Gillingham, performed there then went to Norwich where he's come off the bench to score a couple in the Prem. That's five leagues he's played in over six or so years. I think he broke a record the other day for scoring in every single level of professional English football which was fantastic and made us R&D fans a little proud
Can you see many more stories like that happening though when all the focus and financial interest is in the Championship and Prem clubs only?
Actions like the BBC scrapping the Football League show are also very frustrating. I bet you're pretty livid at that too?
I remember Paul Jones having some pretty fortunate games at our place. It seemed whatever we thew at him, it would hit his knee, shin or shoulder and stay out or he'd catch it off the post! Looks fairly settled at Posh now though. I don't think Cureton ever played against us, but I'm glad he didn't. He's always known where the goal is - bit of a football league veteran who no-one likes unless he's playing for them because of his goalscoring record
Just checked the league one table - I genuinely hope you lot stay up this season and keep all rivalries with the Argyle
We were only allowed to field an U-18 side in a local U-18 league this season, but we're currently 4th in that and got some talented youngsters. It's nice paying £2 to get in with a guaranteed parking space, with no queue for the chips or a pint at H/T
Next season we'll have a senior side of some sort in probably one of the United Counties leagues, if the FA permits us entering etc... Hopefully we'll sign some of our older ex players that can play Saturdays in a physical league at that level and we'll begin another push back towards the more serious non-leagues.