Fish have that sinking feeling

TROUBLED club Fisher Athletic were given a stay of execution at The High Court last week, writes Stephen McCartney.

The club, who groundshare Dulwich Hamlet’s Champion Hill Stadium, are currently rooted to the foot of the Blue Square South table, with 14 points from 24 games, and are eleven points from safety if goal-difference if taken into account.

The club urges fans to flock through the turnstiles on Monday night for the Blue Square South game against Braintree Town, a side that are sitting comfortably in 12^th place.

It has been a troubled season for the Fish, both on and off the pitch.

The club have been unable to pay their players since September and were slapped with a transfer embargo towards the end of the year after a former player took them to an FA tribunal.

The winding up order comes as a result of apparent discrepancies over an assumed tax bill.

A statement issued by the club said, “Just as soon as the transfer embargo was lifted by the league, the Inland Revenue issued a winding up order against the club over non payment of tax.

“Court was adjourned until the 4^th March due to the club contesting the figure owed so the Fish continue as planned - for now.”

Fisher Athletic are not the only club suffering due to the current recession.

Their landlords, Dulwich Hamlet, like many other clubs up and down the country, have been forced to slash their playing budget.

Folkestone Invicta are in a similar position as Fisher, as they too can’t pay their players, over non payment of tax.

And Margate escaped a winding up order at The High Court earlier in the season.

This is a time for all football clubs to cut their cloth accordingly.

“Despite the downturn in the world’s economy, the country in deep recession and huge brands going under on a weekly basis, it should be celebrated that the club refuses to die,” the statement continued.

“The club's owners my have temporarily halted their funding but in this week’s Southwark News they gave their clearest indication yet that they still believe in Fisher and has it’s well being at heart.

“To that end, the club has stepped up it’s bid to return home to Bermondsey and talks with the council are ongoing.”

Visit Fisher Athletic’s website:  www.fisherathletic.co.uk

Fisher Athletic v Braintree Town
Blue Square South
Monday 26^th January 2009
Kick Off 7:45pm
At Champion Hill Stadium, Dog Kennel Hill, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD