It’s not easy to get back to the Football League once you’ve been relegated to the Conference. Of the fourteen teams relegated from League Two since 2004, only three have returned (although Luton Town could still add to their number this year). Carlisle were the only team to bounce back straight away and it took Oxford United, a well-resourced and supported club, four seasons. Two teams (Boston United and re-formed Chester) now play at a lower level.
It’s not easy to get back to the Football League once you’ve been relegated to the Conference. Of the fourteen teams relegated from League Two since 2004, only three have returned (although Luton Town could still add to their number this year). Carlisle were the only team to bounce back straight away and it took Oxford United, a well-resourced and supported club, four seasons. Two teams (Boston United and re-formed Chester) now play at a lower level.
This is the prospect that faces Stockport County. Assistant manager Peter Ward admitted that the club has been dying a slow, lingering death for a long time. It all started to go wrong in 2003 when former chairman Brian Elwood sold the club to Sale Sharks owner Brian Kennedy, a decision he now bitterly regrets.
At the time it looked like a match made in heaven: the egg chasers needed a ground and Stockport needed investment. In 2005 Kennedy sold the football club, but not the ground, to the newly formed Stockport Supporters’ Trust. Because they no longer owned the ground, Stockport lost conference, banqueting and advertsing revenue and even had to pay rent on matchdays.
The club went into administration in 2009 and stayed there for a worryingly long 18 months. The administrator charged £261,000 for his services.
On the positive side, the club does have a strong fan base. There are rumours of two consortiums being interested and talk of a new ground. But it’s not going to be an easy road back.