Today’s edition of The Non-League Paper carries the following advert: ‘Small cartel of local businessmen are looking to acquire or take the majority interest in a non league football club. Ideally in or around the M25 but all responses considered. Our aim is to build a club both on and off the field and try to achieve League Two status.’
Today’s edition of The Non-League Paper carries the following advert: ‘Small cartel of local businessmen are looking to acquire or take the majority interest in a non league football club. Ideally in or around the M25 but all responses considered. Our aim is to build a club both on and off the field and try to achieve League Two status.’
Slightly odd wording: surely they mean a consortium rather than a cartel as the latter is an illegal anti-competitive grouping. The best way of hearing about a likely prospect would also be through networks within football which suggests that this grouping is not well connected within the game.
One also wonders if these ‘local’ businessmen realise how much it costs to build a team capable of competing in the Football League and bring a stadium up to the required standard. Indeed, first one has to get up the non-league pyramid and – particularly difficult – get out of the Conference, a task which many former league clubs have found difficult.
One also wonders about the preferred location. They clearly think that there would be a big population within a driveable distance. True, but of the portion of the population interested in football, almost all of them will have existing allegiances, often to Premier League clubs in London. League Two football in and around London does not attract big attendances: think Dagenham & Redbridge.
What might be the motivation be? Prestige? Adventure? A sense of achievement? What ever applies, it could be an expensive and ultimately frustrating journey with the purchase price the least of the costs.