CREDIT CRUNCH: Folkestone Invicta face financial meltdown

TROUBLED Kent club Folkestone Invicta have issued a statement this afternoon, revealing the current crippling financial crisis at Cheriton Road, writes Stephen McCartney.

Despite currently sitting in third place in the Ryman League Division One South table after eleven games, things aren’t going too well for the club off the pitch, especially after suffering relegation from the premier division on the last day of last season.

There has been talk amongst the loyal Cheriton Road faithful that a number of fans are boycotting home fans until long-serving manager, Neil Cugley, leaves.

However, if they continue with that selfish attitude, then there may no longer be a club to moan about. This is the time that everyone has to pull together.

This, sadly, has seen a meltdown of the club’s finances, and with the credit crunch gripping the entire country - gates are down a whopping 35.5% - something has to be done.

Despite our passionate rivalries around the four corners of the Garden of England, including Tonbridge Angels-Maidstone United, Ramsgate-Margate, Chatham Town-Sittingbourne, Dover Athletic fans are desperate not to lose their neighbours.

“Blimey, can only wish them the best of luck in their survival,” one Dover Athletic fan wrote on www.dovorian.co.uk.

“While we always wish the downfall on the playing field of our rivals, certainly none of us would like to see a fellow club close.”

Invicta are not the only Kent club to publicly announce financial troubles, Margate only just saved a winding up petition at the Royal Courts of Justice earlier in the month.

Another Dover fan added: “Yes, we do have banter due to them being our local rivals, but no one wants a fellow Kent team to go out of business, the same applies to Margate.

“We want them to be around as derby games at this level generate local interest and revenue and certainly beat playing teams in front of a few hundred in London and the surrounding area.”

The board at Folkestone Invicta finally broke their silence today to tell concerned fans of the current situation.

They blame relegation, a loss of income, courtesy of decreased attendances and the credit crunch, gripping the country.

“The current year has been particularly difficult for Folkestone Invicta both on and off the field,“ said the statement, issued on it’s website www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk.

“The lack of effective leadership of the club last season was a major factor in relegation from the Premier division and it was the unwillingness to seek confrontation on vital issues, which led to a state of indecision on costs and expenditure.

“It became apparent that financial commitments were being made without full board authority and that in the close season not only was there a failure to cut costs but wage budgets were put in place that were not sustainable on any sensible basis.

“The current board have fought hard to meet these commitments so far this season but the point has now been reached where the present situation cannot continue.

“Match day revenue is down by 30% over last season and an early exit from both major cup competitions means that prize money received has been below minimum expectations.

“Whilst we are grateful to our loyal and growing band of sponsors for their generous contributions, the club needs considerably more commercial income, which is not practical to expect in today's economic climate.

“The directors have been constantly distracted in recent months by destabilising influences which have conspired to thwart the efforts of the board in improving cash flows and bringing stability back to the club.

“The situation is now so serious that urgent and drastic action is needed to save the club from a financial meltdown that could lead to its ultimate failure.

“Decisions will be taken which may not always be popular with supporters but will be designed only to try to safeguard the future of the club and to see all the games played this season.

“We are pleased to have the assistance and experience of Mark Jenner (formerly the chairman at neighbours, Ashford Town), who is helping the present board in a consultancy capacity bringing much needed external professional support on legal and financial matters.

“Mark together with the Senior Management Team of the club will convene a meeting with the first team squad next week to explain the magnitude of the problem and to ask for their assistance in helping the club through the next difficult few weeks, all of them have already been asked to forego all entitlement to payment.

“Not all will be able or willing to meet this request so it has been made clear that any player wishing to leave will be released from any contractual obligation to the club forthwith.

“It is hoped that the supporters of Folkestone Invicta will both understand the situation the club finds itself in and will rally to the common cause of fighting for a future.

“If together we can get through the next few months then a new management will have a chance to take the club forward and regain its rightful place in the football hierarchy.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk spoke to Sittingbourne manager, Gary Abbott, at around 1pm this afternoon, to preview the Brickies FA Carlsberg Trophy tie away to Horsham on Sunday.

His opponents have problems of their own as they were evicted from their Queen Street ground at the end of last season and after having a move to nearer, Crawley Town, rejected, the Hornets now have to travel to the west Sussex coast, Worthing, to play their home games.

Horsham are not the only Ryman League club that are suffering off the pitch.

Hendon, also face the same problems. They moved out of Claremont Road earlier in the season and now play their home games across north London.

And here in Kent, we’re still waiting for Maidstone United to return to the county town, after a twenty year absence, and we almost lost Margate due to an unpaid tax bill.

When Abbott was asked that his side, currently one place lower than Folkestone Invicta in the table, could be playing Ryman Premier League football next season, he revealed the bombshell about the crisis at Cheriton Road.

“Obviously my aim is to get into the play-off’s, but what’s happening in our league now, a lot of clubs have gone bust,” Abbott said.

“I’ve just heard this morning Folkestone have gone bust, I think. Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know.”

Whilst the players of Premier League clubs live in a world of their own, this is the time that funds drop into the laps of those who need it most - the struggling non-league clubs.

How dare Premier League players pick up any more than £250,000 per year for nothing but kicking a football!

The weekly wage of the so-called stars of that division could keep clubs at our level of the game going for a little longer.

And as mentioned recently on this website, one that cares passionately about football in Kent, the prize money for winning FA Trophy and FA Vase games MUST be increased.

Winning preliminary round ties in the FA Trophy is JUST £2,000. This, the first qualifying round, is JUST £2,300. Small change for those players in the England side that can’t even qualify for two MAJOR tournaments in my lifetime.  I'm 31.

Abbott, like hundreds of others, demands an increase of prize money in those two Cup competitions.

“I think it was £2,000 for the last round, I’m not sure what it is for this round,” he said.

When told it’s an extra £300 for winning this round, Abbott, replied: “Is that all it is?”

But he added: “The way it is in our league with all these teams running out of money and things like that, every little bit helps.”

But Sittingbourne are a club that run a very tight ship, although they do struggle to make ends meet.

Abbott has to find hungry players that just want to play football, rather than pick up a big pay packet at the end of each week.

It is not the first time that Abbott has recognised the hard graft that his chairman, Mr Andy Spice, puts into the Bourne Park club.  A chairman who has served me behind the t-bar and was seen working on the pitch to make sure a game between Maidstone United and Dartford took place.

“Andy and everyone involved in the club are doing a good job,” said Abbott. “Our budget is not the best, but I’ve always said that it’s not about the budget, it’s about what players you bring in.

“We’re always on the look out for players and if we can improve the team on the money that our players are on that’s what we’ll do. We want the best for me, the boys and the club.”

I don’t think Abbott was speaking about Folkestone Invicta’s current budget, when he added: “If I had five grand a week, I wouldn’t give players £300-400 per week. I wouldn’t do it.

“It’s about the players who you bring in. It’s not the money you give them.”

www.kentishfootball.co.uk also contacted BBC Radio Kent’s Matt Davison by text message at 6:45pm, to inform him of Folkestone Invicta’s plight.

He replied: “I’ll speak to them tomorrow and see what help we can be to them. I like Folkestone, nice club.”

For those football fans who have boycotted the club, or those people who live in the town or surrounding areas and go and watch Premier or Championship football, this is when YOUR LOCAL CLUB need you most.

It may only be a friendly, but Folkestone Invicta welcome Kent League side, Herne Bay to Cheriton Road on Tuesday night, followed by a home league game, against Corinthian-Casuals, next Saturday, 25^th October.

You can’t turn your backs on your club when it needs you most. Forget about a night out on the tiles this weekend - turn up in your droves, and show that you care.

And for fans of other Kent sides, this also goes to you. If you’ve not watched your side in action, for whatever reason recently, please pay them a visit soon - before it’s too late!

Visit Folkestone Invicta’s website: www.folkestoneinvicta.co.uk