Stockport County -Still gloomy?

Apologies for the non-appearance of the Bristol Rovers v County match report. I did not go and no less than 6 of my usual suspects’ gave the game a miss as well.

None of the these six one-time stalwarts of the County away day scene cited money as the reason. No, plain and simple their reason to a man was lack of enthusiasm.

Anyway, this article was sent in by ‘Chumpy’. Please, by all means mail me at stockport @ vitalfootball.co.uk, especially if you have something upbeat to say!

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So, last weeks administration was averted. So where are we now?

Have you lost your enthusiasm for County at the moment?

We won’t get to the play-offs, we won’t lose ten points and go down. Our form has fallen to bits. Players are leaving and the manager looks as though he too has lost the drive to continue. The season has all but ended.

Apparently County have received accelerated payments due from players sold (Ash Williams, Dicko, Pilks etc) in exchange for a lower final amount. Thanks then to Derby, Brighton, Swansea and Huddersfield. Good old Woodley Sports have also apparently given County more time to pay their cut of the Liam Dickenson sale.

OK, as I write this today we are solvent, but if the underlying balance of cash flow is still negative how long before the next crisis? How long before we have to sell Raynes, Fon Williams, Tunnicluffe etc to balance the books?

How long before Jim Gannon quits? Four weeks?

County Chairman Martin Reid now puts the club into phase 1b (if you remember Mr Reid outlined three phases to salvation) which is to make County a more attractive proposition (for investment or takeover?)

HMRC come knocking again on 19th April but it is unclear whether we have funds to stave off more Administration threats or whether we can get to May 31st (another HMRC deadline).

I cannot help thinking there will be a fire sale (Tunnicliffe, Fon Williams, Rowe, Raynes) in the close season without substantial investment and Jim Gannon will leave.

Substantial investment will surely not be forthcoming without a renegotiation of the awful noose around our neck that is the deal with Cheshire Sports.

In the interim we can all get down to Edgeley Park for the games with Yeovil, Walsall and the Friday nighter against Crewe.

We can also stump up £1000 for a four year season ticket (see here)

How many of us are going to bother with this until the future of the club is known?

Will we ever get an announcement from the clubs ‘owners’?

All in all despite Martin Reids comment that ‘Hopefully by the end of the season we will be in a healthier position with a stronger balance sheet to allow the Supporters Trust to look at other bids to help decide the clubs future.’ – I can find nothing upbeat at the moment to make me want to renew my season ticket.

In 30 years of supporting my home town club I cannot ever remember feeling so fed up with it all.

Time to get myself an allotment?

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Thanks again to ‘Chumpy’ for sending this in.

Yeovil on Saturday. Surely we are due 3 points then and something to cheer about?

Ol’ Pop