Foreign takeovers have moved into the world of non-league football. Danish company Fodboldsekskabet have looked at many clubs and were pipped to the post at Chester by a fans’ revival. But now they have got their heart’s desire by becoming joint owners at Ryman Premier outfit Croydon Athletic.
Foreign takeovers have moved into the world of non-league football. Danish company Fodboldsekskabet have looked at many clubs and were pipped to the post at Chester by a fans’ revival. But now they have got their heart’s desire by becoming joint owners at Ryman Premier outfit Croydon Athletic.
They have become the only English club owned by Danes. The new owners wanted a club where they could make a difference and they think that they can take the club to the peak of the non-league pyramid in the form of the Blue Square Premiership.
Well, I have news for them. First, Croydon already has a very successful football club: it’s called Crystal Palace. Second, it’s particularly difficult to run a non-league club in the London suburbs, Welling United being a case in point. One suburb blends into another and there is a lack of strong geographical identity.
Croydon could do with a benefactor as wages have not been paid. In August the Rams’ owner Mazhar Majeed was accused by the press of involvement in throwing Test matches. He is on police bail and continues to own 49 per cent of the shares.