The club was officially wound up this morning owing around £7000 eradicating over 100 years of history. I do hope English football's greed merchants & the Football Association in particular are pleased with themselves. A really sad day.
Whilst not directly linked to the Premier League the debt involved is but a few hours wage of one of their prima donnas. The folding of North Ferriby United is a stark reminder of the obscenity that is the Premier League. Ridiculous money, mainly flooding out of the country via Johnny Foreigner whist the grass roots struggle.
Maybe I’m being soft minded but surely Hull City or a whip round from their supporters could have raised such a paltry sum? I would like to think we would have been more supportive if one of our local non league sides was in similar need.
They might be further down the football pyramid than us but there are lessons to be learned. They rose up the divisions while they were owned by the daughter and son in law of the Hull City owner. They ran at a big loss and were dependant on the owner plugging the gap. He then fell ill and needed brain surgery and (understandably) walked away. In the couple of years since they have had a couple of local owners without the same financial clout and their past excesses have caught up with them. Very sad for the supporters but it has happened before. Beware clubs who rise meteorically through the leagues on a wave of investment from individuals. It rarely ends well. Look at Boston, Colne Dynamo, Rushden and Diamonds etc. I am sorry for the fans of North Ferriby but am reminded that it would be stupidity for us to chase unrealistic dreams bankrolled by an individual. Its often a recipe for disaster. Growth has to be long term sustainable. Always ask the question 'what would we do if the owner lost interest, died, or lost all his/her wealth?'.
And plan accordingly. That's basic business planning. Thank the lord (again) for Tony Stewart and his goal of making us a self-sufficient business. We are in better hands than most.
The unpaid debt was just £7500 FFS smiler so the piece about excesses of the past is utter claptrap. Two hours of Sergio Aguero's wages, One luxury family holiday, a decent second-hand car, let's get this into context. Why couldn't the lauded Football Association that is supposedly working for grassroots football step in & help. I must say I'm surprised by your lack of sympathy or empathy.
The debt that got them wound up was £7k but that doesn't necessarily mean it was their only debt. They had others. I do feel sorry for the supporters Brad. I also feel sorry for the small business owners and individuals who wont now get paid. I love non-league football and watch a lot of it. I have seen plenty of football over the years at Worksop Town who have suffered badly and sunk to an all time low league position and been homeless. I get that there is a ridiculous gulf between non-league and top level. All of that is true. But North Ferriby were apparently paying £7k a week in wages on average crowds of about 200 and without a rich owner pumping money in it wasn't sustainable. Sorry as I am for the fans, it is dangerous for any club at any level to overstretch itself. Apart from anything else it hasnt ended well for their fans. That is my point. I don't think its an unreasonable one.
-- Edited by smiler on Sunday 17th of March 2019 06:55:24 PM
