Knitters in trouble

The Football Association have given Blue Square Bet North club Hinckley United until Friday July 16th to pay wages due to players from last season and also debts to Revenue and Customs.  The Knitters are confident that they will receive money to settle the debts early this week and that a friendly with Coventry City on Saturday will go ahead as planned.   The Leicestershire side have also announced a two-year sponsorship deal with Uttoxeter Racecourse for the Green King Stadium’s East Stand.

The Football Association have given Blue Square Bet North club Hinckley United until Friday July 16th to pay wages due to players from last season and also debts to Revenue and Customs.  The Knitters are confident that they will receive money to settle the debts early this week and that a friendly with Coventry City on Saturday will go ahead as planned.   The Leicestershire side have also announced a two-year sponsorship deal with Uttoxeter Racecourse for the Green King Stadium’s East Stand.


Evo-Stik Premier side Bradford Park Avenue face a winding-up petition on Wednesday.  However the one time Football League side are confident that they can settle a four figure tax bill before then.


Sometimes football attracts some dubious characters, but Croydon Athletic insist that they will not be hit financially after ex-chairman Dean Fisher was jailed for three years for fraud.  He siphoned off £500,000 from the company where he worked, pouring £260,000 into Croydon.   Non-league clubs in suburban London face particular challenges in attracting crowds, but they won promotion to the Ryman Premier last season.   However, the club has attracted a new owner and chairman and sufficient funds will be available.


Ryman Premier side Maidstone United face being thrown out of the league after Ashford Town told them that their groundshare agreement with them had been terminated.  The agreement still had one year to run, but Ryman South side Ashford Town claim that there have been serious violations of the groundshare agreement.   There would also appear to be tensions within the Ashford board, with one director reported to have issued a winding up order against them.


The recession has hit non-league football hard, particularly the more financially vulnerable clubs.  Personal disputes can flare up and complicate matters to an extent that does not happen at a higher level.