So Here I Am Again: The Demise of Hereford United

So here I am again, writing about another football club who look to be at the end of their life. it felt like yesterday I was writing about Darlington, then Hinckley United. Hereford United, the club that brought us one of the greatest FA Cup giantkillings of all time when Ronnie Radford's special goal defeated Newcastle in 1972, could be gone within two weeks, after a CVA Proposal was rejected by creditors. I'm not going to write this and pretend I know the full story about the Bulls' awful demise, because I don't, and that would be wrong, but simply on what I do know - the basic facts. I'm not a Hereford United supporter, nor have I have ever been to Edgar Street, let alone Hereford, but I know it is a club at the heart of the city, with strong community ties and dedicated supporters. 

In June 2014, at the end of the Skrill Premier season, The Bulls' were expelled from the Conference due to financial irregularities; debts spiralled to £1.3m, but the club were accepted into the Southern League for the 2014/15 season. Former manager Martin Foyle headed a winding up petition against the club, however, and has been joined by former staff members and HMRC, but it has been adjourned a number of times. 

Yesterday, 14th August 2014, just two days before start of the Premier League season begins, the CVA (Company Voluntary Agreement) proposed to pay off the debts to the creditors was rejected, and the club have been given just two weeks to find major investment or face liquidation. Many fans have lambasted chairman David Keyte for the problems that have faced the club, and it looks likely that him and the Edgar Street faithful will be making their last journey to the 6000 capacity ground on the 30th August, when the Bulls host Burnham, unless something close to a miracle happens. 1st September is fast becoming the day Hereford United cease to exist.

R.I.P Hereford United. Successfully killed 2014.

Sky Blues Remain Defiant Against Sisu

Courtesy of Getty Images

Friday, March 21st, and the FA have dealt Coventry City another blow - they will not help the stricken club return home. It is just another cruel blow in a situation with little sign of an ending.

 Coventry City - a 131 year old football club that has been destroyed in just a couple of years. The Sky Blues have had their soul ripped out, their identity broken, and trodden into the ground. Coventry City are not Coventry City any more. Coventry City are simply a plaything for SISU. 
In Summer 2013, it was announced the Sky Blues would play their football 34 miles from home, at Sixfields in Northampton. A council dispute - in simple terms - has led SISU to up sticks and shift the club down the M1, alienating the club from its furious and powerless supporters. This drastic move has meant the Sky Blues have on of the lowest average attendances in the Football League, with little over 2000 fans turning up to Sixfield on a matchday. Defiant supporters, who refuse to enter the 8000 capacity stadium - some 4x smaller than the Ricoh - stand proud, saluting their heroes from the hill that surrounds the ground. They refuse to enter Sixfields. 'Not a Penny More'. Flags drape the surrounding fences, and their billowing voices sing 'Play Up Sky Blues', protesting against their apparent delusional, clueless owners...

...but SISU stand defiant. They plan to stay at Sixfields for another 4 seasons, and then build a new ground on the outskirts of Coventry. You could be forgiven for thinking the plans have gone down well with the Sky Blues supporters. Wrong. 

I for myself have witnessed the events at Sixfields as I saw Crawley play City in a 2-2 in January. Back then I wrote 'I went to Coventry/Northamton today and it just felt so wrong. Nobody at CCFC cares apart from the fans. It breaks my heart to see such a massive club being ripped apart. I've learnt a lot today and it's really opened my eyes that SISU should have never been allowed anywhere near a football club. I've never felt so sorry for a set of football supporters. The soul has been ripped out of Coventry City and it is so so wrong. Get Coventry back to the Ricoh. It is home'.

So, how did SISU become the owners of a club steeped in history only to destroy them in six long years? In 2007 Coventry were on the brink of going into administration. At the last minute, Sisu arrived on the scene and bought the club. A lot of big promises were made about re-investment in the football team to bring about a return to the Premier League but little was delivered. In 2012 the club was relegated, to League One. Following relegation, SISU stated the rent payments were unacceptable for a League One club and refused payments for 12 months. The conflict continued for 12 months. The landlords of the Ricoh Arena offered a package that included playing at the Arena rent-free for two seasons, bit SISU refused to accept, and announced they were moving the club to Northampton. 

The turmoil has not, however, impacted on City's away supporters. With sparse home crowds, and mass boycotts of 'home' games, the Sky Blues only option to watch their side is away from home. To highlight their support this season, an incredible 7'000 people travelled to MK Dons, 4'000 to Notts County and 3'500 to Wolves and 3'000 to Port Vale to name but a few. Coventry City have been thrown about like a ragdoll, but their supporters remain defiant, and protests continue. Their fans will not let their club die. 

Please, for the sake of Coventry City Football Club and it's supporters, sign this petition to 'Keep Cov in Cov'. http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/59884