Financially troubled Rushden & Diamonds have been expelled from the Conference. A full statement issued by the club can be found here.
This looks like the end of the dream realised by former owner Max Griggs that saw the Northamptonshire club win the League 2 championship, have one season in League 1 and play the likes of QPR, now in the Premier League.
Financially troubled Rushden & Diamonds have been expelled from the Conference. A full statement issued by the club can be found here.
This looks like the end of the dream realised by former owner Max Griggs that saw the Northamptonshire club win the League 2 championship, have one season in League 1 and play the likes of QPR, now in the Premier League.
Fans are talking of re-entering the non-league system at level seven according to regional television, but a statement from the club refers to the Zamaretto or Southern League which is fourth tier in its regional divisions. In either event it is unlikely that they can make economic use of the well appointed stadium at Nene Park, Irthlingborough which is owned by former chairman Keith Cousins.
Indeed, the stadium is one of the challenges that the club has faced. It is too large, even with one stand shut off, for the crowds that have been coming to matches. As it has aged, maintenance costs have risen. It was also flooded by the adjacent River Nene last December and the insurance payments have not been made.
The immediate priority is to avoid the club being wound up at a court hearing on Monday. Two investment consortiums were reported to be interested in acquiring the club, one linked with the Glenn Hoddle Academy, but they were unable to put proposals together to save the club in time.
The winding up petition by a catering company is supported by Revenue & Customs but it is hoped that the club could be given a stay of execution to allow the second consortium, believed to be backed by investors in Japan, to put forward concrete proposals.