With the smallest playing budget in League Two at about £450,000, Accrington Stanley missed out on automatic promotion last season on goal difference. They then lost in the play off semi-finals to AFC Wimbledon.
Since then a number of star players have left, two to Rangers for just £125,000. The club reckons that domestic transfers in England would have yielded around £2 million. It just shows how the odds are stacked against small clubs.
With the smallest playing budget in League Two at about £450,000, Accrington Stanley missed out on automatic promotion last season on goal difference. They then lost in the play off semi-finals to AFC Wimbledon.
Since then a number of star players have left, two to Rangers for just £125,000. The club reckons that domestic transfers in England would have yielded around £2 million. It just shows how the odds are stacked against small clubs.
Local businessman Andy Holt took over last year and provided about £2m to sustain the club and £1m for much needed ground and infrastructure improvements.
Long-term manager John Coleman told The Times, ‘The takeover has left the club on a really stable financial footing. In the past there’s always been a question of whether you’re going to get paid at Accrington. That’s been eradicated now.
Attendances are always a challenge for a club. The town has a population of 46,000 and my rule of thumb is you need at least 100,000 to sustain a club at the top of the non-league pyramid. What is more Blackburn is only four miles away and Burnley six miles away. Admittedly, some Burnley fans have treated Accrington as a second club.
Accrington won their opening home fixture against Doncaster Rovers 3-2 with a stoppage time winner.