Is the Southern League Cursed?
It was brought to my attention (by the Stourbridge FC Twitter account) just a few moments ago that in the last 5 years, three clubs had folded mid-season in the Southern League. Now I have to say, that is a shocking statistic. That in the space of 5 years, three clubs had to seize playing.
The first casualty was Windsor & Eton FC. At the end of the 2009/10 season, they have finished top of the Southern League Division 1 South and West. This gained them automatic promotion into the Premier Division. However, debts were mounting and after numerous court hearings, the club released a statement on January 30th 2011 saying that the club would cease to exist.
Our second club to fold mid-season is of course Hinckley United. Following from a play-off final defeat, Hinckley United struggled the following season and were involved in a relegation battle throughout. The next few season were treated as consolidation, as financial hardship hit the club off the field. The football club was sanctioned with a registration embargo, limiting the number of players at the club to a maximum of 16.
Players left the club, due to the financial issues, and season 2010–11 saw a virtual fresh team of players start for Hinckley. Again it was a battle against relegation, but after the registration embargo was lifted in November 2010, some new players were brought in and Hinckley dragged themselves away from the relegation zone towards a mid table finish.
Another season of struggle and financial hardship followed in season 2011–12 and the club were relegated on the final day of the season, though finished on 48 points, the highest points total to be relegated from the Conference North. On 25 May 2012, the F.A published their proposed club allocations for the 2012–13 non-league season proposing Hinckley United would be in the Conference North after both Darlington and Kettering Town were relegated further divisions after financial problems. In June this reprieve was officially confirmed at the Football Conference AGM.
On 10 October the only manager in the club's history, Dean Thomas, resigned following a poor start to the season and increasing financial restrictions and was replaced by assistant manager, Carl Heggs. The club were again playing under a transfer embargo, even having to postpone one home game due to lack of players, and in other matches playing Youth team players. The team went on a winless run and, following a 4–1 defeat at Gloucester City, they were relegated. Heggs resigned, and long-serving player and 1st team coach Stuart Storer became the new manager.
On 7 October 2013 Hinckley United were wound up in the High Court of Justice.
Finally, we come back to this season and of course the big news of Hereford United being wound up. Hereford were expelled from the Conference on 10 June 2014 due to financial irregularities. It was revealed a week later that the club's debts could total as much as £1.3million. The club was accepted into the Southern League Premier Division for the 2014–15 season on 19 June 2014. However, financial worries continued, including a winding-up petition started by Martin Foyle, who resigned as Manager in March 2014. Hearings of the winding-up petition were adjourned a number of times, including on 7 July 2014. A number of other creditors attached themselves to the Foyle petition, including Andy Porter, former Assistant Manager, and HMRC. A CVA was proposed by the Board of Directors of the company, but was rejected by creditors. Many Hereford fans chose to boycott the club due to clashes between fans and the board. Many fans felt anger over the board's choice not to pay a bond to remain in the Conference Premier and other management choices that the fans felt were not in the club's best interests.
On 10 December 2014, after failing to fully and properly comply with obligations to respond to questions coming from an Independent Regulatory Commission, the FA suspended Hereford United from all forms of football activity with immediate effect, until the order of the Independent Regulatory Commission was complied with to the full satisfaction of the Commission. Hereford United's suspension from all football activity was lifted by the Football Association the following day, after Chairman, and new majority shareholder, Andy Lonsdale confirmed the FA received the necessary documentation - including the transfer of shares in the club to Lonsdale. The club was wound-up in the High Court in December 2014.
Now, with all of that said, I go back to my original question. Is the Southern League cursed? Is it a graveyard for clubs? Well, it is certainly looking that way. Things need to change in non league football - that is why we are pledging our own time to write these articles for you. This is why we are spending our own money to sponsor clubs that need the sponsor money to keep their club running.
Thank you for reading.
Ben Bullock
The first casualty was Windsor & Eton FC. At the end of the 2009/10 season, they have finished top of the Southern League Division 1 South and West. This gained them automatic promotion into the Premier Division. However, debts were mounting and after numerous court hearings, the club released a statement on January 30th 2011 saying that the club would cease to exist.
Our second club to fold mid-season is of course Hinckley United. Following from a play-off final defeat, Hinckley United struggled the following season and were involved in a relegation battle throughout. The next few season were treated as consolidation, as financial hardship hit the club off the field. The football club was sanctioned with a registration embargo, limiting the number of players at the club to a maximum of 16.
Players left the club, due to the financial issues, and season 2010–11 saw a virtual fresh team of players start for Hinckley. Again it was a battle against relegation, but after the registration embargo was lifted in November 2010, some new players were brought in and Hinckley dragged themselves away from the relegation zone towards a mid table finish.
Another season of struggle and financial hardship followed in season 2011–12 and the club were relegated on the final day of the season, though finished on 48 points, the highest points total to be relegated from the Conference North. On 25 May 2012, the F.A published their proposed club allocations for the 2012–13 non-league season proposing Hinckley United would be in the Conference North after both Darlington and Kettering Town were relegated further divisions after financial problems. In June this reprieve was officially confirmed at the Football Conference AGM.
On 10 October the only manager in the club's history, Dean Thomas, resigned following a poor start to the season and increasing financial restrictions and was replaced by assistant manager, Carl Heggs. The club were again playing under a transfer embargo, even having to postpone one home game due to lack of players, and in other matches playing Youth team players. The team went on a winless run and, following a 4–1 defeat at Gloucester City, they were relegated. Heggs resigned, and long-serving player and 1st team coach Stuart Storer became the new manager.
On 7 October 2013 Hinckley United were wound up in the High Court of Justice.
Finally, we come back to this season and of course the big news of Hereford United being wound up. Hereford were expelled from the Conference on 10 June 2014 due to financial irregularities. It was revealed a week later that the club's debts could total as much as £1.3million. The club was accepted into the Southern League Premier Division for the 2014–15 season on 19 June 2014. However, financial worries continued, including a winding-up petition started by Martin Foyle, who resigned as Manager in March 2014. Hearings of the winding-up petition were adjourned a number of times, including on 7 July 2014. A number of other creditors attached themselves to the Foyle petition, including Andy Porter, former Assistant Manager, and HMRC. A CVA was proposed by the Board of Directors of the company, but was rejected by creditors. Many Hereford fans chose to boycott the club due to clashes between fans and the board. Many fans felt anger over the board's choice not to pay a bond to remain in the Conference Premier and other management choices that the fans felt were not in the club's best interests.
On 10 December 2014, after failing to fully and properly comply with obligations to respond to questions coming from an Independent Regulatory Commission, the FA suspended Hereford United from all forms of football activity with immediate effect, until the order of the Independent Regulatory Commission was complied with to the full satisfaction of the Commission. Hereford United's suspension from all football activity was lifted by the Football Association the following day, after Chairman, and new majority shareholder, Andy Lonsdale confirmed the FA received the necessary documentation - including the transfer of shares in the club to Lonsdale. The club was wound-up in the High Court in December 2014.
Now, with all of that said, I go back to my original question. Is the Southern League cursed? Is it a graveyard for clubs? Well, it is certainly looking that way. Things need to change in non league football - that is why we are pledging our own time to write these articles for you. This is why we are spending our own money to sponsor clubs that need the sponsor money to keep their club running.
Thank you for reading.
Ben Bullock