Cobblers police investigation statement

It is clear that the Northamptonshire Police inquiry into alleged financial impropriety connected with a £10.25m loan to Northampton Town Football Club (under its previous ownership) is consuming considerable resources and is being conducted in a commendably thorough fashion.

Football and new technology

Football has always been resistant to new technology.  The first, admittedly crude, experiments with flood lighting were carried out in the 19th century.  When more reliable methods became available, it was first seen as something of a novelty before being widely adopted with ever improving technology (although still vulnerable to a supply interruption at non-league level).

Was it the pitch guv?

Many football managers have a great big book of excuses which they resort to in order to explain defeats. A favourite is to blame the officials: their goal was offside, but was given; ours wasn’t, but was checked off. Don’t get me started on penalty calls.

Empty seats at Wembley for Spurs

There will be almost 20,000 empty seats at Tottenham Hotspur’s first Premier League match at Wembley because of restrictions imposed by Brent council and the Metropolitan Police.   Spurs have sold about 70,000 tickets for one of their biggest matches of the season against Chelsea, including 3,000 to away fans.

Worcester City to appeal stadium decision

Worcester City are set to appeal against a second refusal of planning permission for their proposed 4,000 capacity stadium at Perdiswell Park.   The club has been without a home since selling St. George’s Lane in 2013,

The club has dropped down three tiers in the non-league pyramid into the Midland League Premier Division because they could not afford to play at a higher level while ground sharing at Bromsgrove Sporting 16 miles away from the cathedral city.

Koreans interested in Woking

Chankoo Sim, leader of Sportzen, a Seoul-based marketing firm, is one of a number of potential bidders interested in Woking.   The company were the first Koreans to invest in a European football club after acquiring Belgian second division side AFC Tubize in 2014.

Profit into loss at Gillingham

A profit of £180k at Gillingham in 2015 turned into a loss of £800,000 in the year ended May 2016.   Turnover was flat at £5.68m.

The wage bill was up 10 per cent in 2016, but is less than Ibrahimovic earns in ten weeks, illustrating the gap between the Premier League and League One.  The whole squad cost £80k and no player was signed for a fee in 2016.

A dispute with caterers Centerplate is to go to court in November 2017.   Out of court settlements have been rejected.