CREDIT CRUNCH: The FA should help non-league clubs more, says Darts chairman

DARTFORD co-chairman Dave Skinner wants The Football Association to help non-league football clubs when it comes to allocating prize money, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Darts threw away a 3-1 lead against British Gas Business Premier League outfit Oxford City in the second qualifying round of the FA Carlsberg Trophy yesterday, in horrible wet and windy conditions at Princes Park.

They travel to Oxford’s Court Place Farm Stadium on Tuesday for the replay in confident mood that their can finish off the job, and, if they do, they will collect just £3,000 in prize money from the game’s top brass.

Considering the FA Cup winners this season will bank £2m and the runners-up £1m, that will be small change for England’s top four clubs, but Mr Skinner, speaking to www.kentishfootball.co.uk  yesterday, feels more funds should be allocated to where it’s needed most.

Dartford, who started their FA Trophy campaign in the first qualifying round, would bank £101,300 in FA prize money if they emulate Ebbsfleet United’s achievements off last season - lifting the heavy piece of silverware underneath the Wembley Arch next May.

Mr Skinner also revealed the difficulties in attracting sponsors to the Ryman Premier League club.

Despite attracting average league crowds of 1,076, crowds are, however, down 5.2% on last season.

“Like everyone, the credit crunch is really starting to bite now,” revealed Mr Skinner.

“Sponsorship’s down, we’re fortunate with the crowds staying as they are, so at least we’re maintaining our income stream that way.

“Sponsorship is well down and getting harder and harder to find. I can’t give you figures, literally every time, lots and lots of people promise stuff through the summer.

“They’ve come back, to be fair to them they’ve been very apologetic to say they can’t really give money to people when they laying people off in jobs. It’s a fact of life at the moment unfortunately.”

Whilst the Premier League is awash with foreign money, that is not the case here in Kent.

Examples of this are Ramsgate forcing to off-load striker Mo Takaloo, who re-joined Thanet rivals Margate, on a free-transfer, having paid Blue Square South side Bromley an undisclosed fee for former Tonbridge Angels and Dartford striker, Jay May.

In a recent interview, Tonbridge Angels chairman, Nick Sullivan revealed the club’s current gates don’t even pay for half of their weekly wage bill.

And both Folkestone Invicta and Margate have publicly announced financial hardship.

Mr Skinner, wants the Football Association to assist clubs at our level of the game.

“The FA have at least done a little bit this year by increasing the FA Cup prize money but they should certainly still increase the Trophy money,” he bemoaned.

“Most of the (non-league) clubs are out of the FA Cup by the first round proper and that’s where they money really starts in the FA Cup.

“So what they should do is cut the money down from then onwards and contribute it more in the FA Trophy where you’re guaranteed to go into non-league clubs.”

Tuesday night’s FA Trophy replay up at Oxford City causes the postponement of the Kent Senior Cup first round tie between Bromley and Dartford at Hayes Lane.

Bromley’s crowds at Hayes Lane are DOWN a whopping 30.8% and only 370 watch their 3-2 home defeat to St Albans City yesterday.

This can also be down to the credit crunch, but also down to a lack of publicity.

You may recall that Bromley’s chairman, Jerry Dolke, banned this website from covering their games as we revealed that George Wakeling and Billy Smith were to leave the club for Mark Goldberg about three years ago.

Mr Dolke, speaking to www.newsshopper.co.uk last week, admitted “now is for everyone to get behind us and help support us.”

Maybe this is the time for Mr Dolke to drop his stance towards this website and allow us to cover their games, as he’s the one that is missing out on the publicity and effectively, putting bums on seats.

“The club is still up for sale, but I haven’t had any firm offers yet,” said Mr Dolke.

“We are actively looking for investors or an investor who cam make a total buyout of the club so Bromley can complete and push on with better budgets.

“We are in an economic crisis, which is effecting businesses who have supported us and are finding it hard to justify having advertising hoardings at Hayes Lane when they are having to let people go.

“We’ve come through the hard times and what Bromley FC needs more than anything now is for everyone to get behind us and help support us through this difficult financial period.”

I, therefore await hearing from Mr Dolke, as Kent’s most popular football website, would be more than willing to help put bums on seats.

Back to Dartford, Mr Skinner, praised the 749 fans that braved the atrocious conditions to watch the thrilling 3-3 draw against Oxford City, days after another 3-3 home draw, against AFC Hornchurch in the league.

“People have to be congratulated for turning up, let alone watching the game,” said Mr Skinner.

“Horrendous rain, all throughout the match, the wind blowing so it was very difficult to actually find cover anywhere because no matter where you sat, the wind blew the rain at you.”

Visit club websites:

www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

www.bromleyfc.net

Bromley quotes courtesy of www.newsshopper.co.uk