Rich individuals sometimes think that investing in a non-league club can be a route to football glory. It can work, Fleetwood Town being an example. It can also go pear shaped when the money runs out, as happened at Rushden and Diamonds. At AFC Fylde, in the play off positions in the National League North, the jury is still out.
Rich individuals sometimes think that investing in a non-league club can be a route to football glory. It can work, Fleetwood Town being an example. It can also go pear shaped when the money runs out, as happened at Rushden and Diamonds. At AFC Fylde, in the play off positions in the National League North, the jury is still out.
It does need a certain amount of patience and at Margate chairman Bob Laslett has decided to pull his money out after pumping in millions. It was not an entirely unrealistic proposition. The Isle of Thanet, although not the most prosperous of areas, should at least be able to sustain a Conference side. Margate won promotion through the play offs to the National League South last year where they are currently 16th.
Laslett became frustrated by the lack of progress. There has been a fire sale of players, some of whom are on over £1,000 a week, although Freddie Lapado has been snapped up by Crystal Palace for a six figure fee. Laslett has also given the club a sizeable sum to tide them over.