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Blue Square Premiership

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Stags find a benefactor

Submitted by WG on Mon, 27/09/2010 - 16:40

The financial crisis at Mansfield Town is over with the Stags finding a wealthy benefactor.  Multi-millionaire and local businessman John Radford has bought the Conference club for £1 from previous owners Andy Saunders, Steve Hymas and Steve Middleton.  They stay on at the club as non-executive directors.

Stags up for sale

Submitted by WG on Sun, 12/09/2010 - 12:35

Mansfield Town FC have been put up for sale.  They are in their third season outside the Football League and enjoyed the fourth biggest crowds outside the Football League last season.  Chairman Andrew Perry was voted off the board in July, with remaining directors alleging he had reneged on a written obligation in joining them in punpinng £125,000 each into the club.

Television deal for Conference

Submitted by WG on Sun, 15/08/2010 - 08:42

The Conference is close to a television deal for the Blue Square Bet Premier reveals the Non-League Paper.   A contract is likely to be signed with satellite subscription channel Premier Sports within a week.    The Conference has been without television coverage for a year since the collapse of Setanta.

Financial problems at Wrexham

Submitted by WG on Fri, 13/08/2010 - 10:16

Wrexham's failure to re-gain Football League status has clearly cost them financially, although the overall position is complicated as this statement from the club makes clear.   It is evident that the holding company, Wrexham Village, is subsidising the club to the tune of £1m a year.

Kiddy on restricted budget

Submitted by WG on Thu, 12/08/2010 - 10:58

Kidderminster Harriers enjoyed a spell in the Football League but now they are having to operate on a restricted budget.  They are hoping that their prudent approach will pay off in the longer run, but season ticket sales have fallen over the summer, although this could have as much to do with the economic climate as their strategy.   They also hope that some new investors may come in.

Takeover at Forest Green

Submitted by WG on Sun, 08/08/2010 - 11:49

Cash strapped Conference club Forest Green Rovers, who have been struggling to pay off historic tax debts, look as if they are about to be taken over.   Dale Vince, Britain's richest green entrepreneur, is poised to make a bid.  His wind power company is based in Stroud, close to the Nailsworth club.  He has built up a £85m fortune and ranks 657th in the UK's rich list.  He has previously sponsored Shortwood United.


The good news follows the announcement last week of a lucrative two-year shirt sponsorship with Coventry Building Society.

Not too grim at Grimsby

Submitted by WG on Mon, 12/07/2010 - 10:13

Relegation from the Football League to the Conference was understandably a blow to Grimsby fans.  The club has not been in the top division since 1948, but it is not so long since they were in what is now the Championship and they have generally been regarded as serious contenders in the Football League.   However, the club has had seven managers in nine years and there has been a rapid turnover of players with an inevitable use of loan signings.

Grimsby deny financial crisis

Submitted by WG on Thu, 17/06/2010 - 06:20

At one time Grimsby Town FC (who actually play in Cleethorpes) were in what is now the Championship, but they have since been relegated to the Conference.   However, after the chairman of the Conference stated that the two clubs being relegated this year were in a financial mess, the chairman of Grimsby Town has strongly refuted these claims which caused some anxiety among Grimsby fans.  He has pointed out that the club has a 'healthy' overdraft and any debt is benign debt owed to

Non-league clubs complain they get a raw deal

Submitted by WG on Tue, 15/06/2010 - 08:27

Non-league clubs are complaining that they are being treated more harshly and more inconsistently than league clubs who run into financial trouble.   Prominent among the complainants are Northwich Victoria and Salisbury City who consider that they have been unfailrly demoted to Step 3 of the non-league pyramid for failing to comply with financial rules.

Salisbury City fight expulsion

Submitted by WG on Mon, 24/05/2010 - 18:32

Salisbury City are appealing against expulsion from the Blue Square Premiership under the controversial Appendix E rules adopted last year.   Some critics think they are too stringent.   Salisbury argue that they have paid all football creditors in full.    Their only outstanding debt is an admittedly substantial £228,000 to the tax authorities with whom they have an agreement to pay 27p in the pound over three years.