Change needed to protect clubs
ACCRINGTON boss John Coleman believes football’s governing bodies must do more to help clubs avoid the financial difficulties currently being endured by the likes of Bury and Bolton.
The Reds are without a game this weekend as the EFL have suspended their scheduled fixture against the Shakers in light of Bury’s ongoing struggles. The newly-promoted club failed to satisfy EFL chiefs they have a feasible financial plan with which to take the club forward.
The information they provided at a meeting last week was still not enough to demonstrate that Bury have the ability to immediately settle all football debts, meet obligations to unsecured creditors and ensure the club has the appropriate financial resources for the 2019/20 season.
It means this weekend’s fixture has been suspended. In accordance with EFL Regulations, Stanley were consulted on the matter prior to the decision being finalised.
The Reds themselves folded in the 1960s and a new Stanley was reformed two years later and returned to the Football League in 2006.
That experience means boss Coleman has sympathy for both clubs – especially the supporters.
“We’ve been in those situations before, it’s easy to criticise teams, but we’ve been in the situation where we’ve found it difficult and running a football club is very difficult,” Coleman said.
“All we can do is wish them all the best and hope that they pull through and get playing football.
“No one wants to see teams suffer, no one wants to see fans suffer, who ultimately, do most of the suffering.
“I think football has to change the way it’s structured if we’re going to avoid a repeat of this. They won’t be the only two teams who are feeling the pinch and heading towards financial trouble.
“There’ll be lots of other teams who we don’t know about yet.”
Both Bury and Bolton started the League One season with a 12-point deduction. Bolton have been permitted to play their fixtures as they produced evidence of financial backing with which to take the club forward through the campaign and still pay off debts.
But it’s a sad state of affairs for two historic clubs, according to Coleman.
Bolton were one of the founder members of the Football League while Bury have a 134-year history in the game and Coleman admits it’s hard to believe the situation both clubs find themselves in.
“It’s hard to believe, especially a club of Bolton’s stature who have been in the Premier League and you see their ground,” he said.
“It’s hard to take and hard to believe. Then you’ve got Bury, who last year were celebrating promotion and then the rug has been pulled from underneath them.”
SUPPORTERS match to raise funds for Bury:
ACCRINGTON Stanley have made their tastiest signing of the summer transfer window.
Born in 1995 and locally based, club bosses say the new member of the squad
is set to bring something different and exciting to the Reds on match days.
Clayton Park Pies have committed to supplying pie-tastic savouries at Stanley for the foreseeable.
The company have also invested in new pie warmers and hot display equipment at the Wham Stadium to ensure betterquality pies for match attendees.
Reds manager John Coleman said: “After impressive seasons at Everton, Rochdale AFC and Burnley FC, the experience is definitely there and we are really excited about the new addition to the Stanley family!
“We really needed some fresh meat here at Stanley and the commercial team has found the cherry on the cake.”
Daniel Bowerbank, commercial manager of Accrington Stanley, said: “As a community club we are determined to bring like-minded businesses into our Stanley Connections group of businesses supporting the club and with the same ethos.
“It is great that we can announce Clayton Park Pies as our new supplier of Accrington Stanley for the foreseeable.”
Barry Thomas, managing director at Clayton Park Pies, said it is a ‘privilege’ to be welcomed into the Stanley family as their official pie suppliers
He said: “We are bringing with us a huge selection, ranging from the traditional potato and meat pies to a more alternative chicken balti or Bombay potato pie.
“It’s pretty special, as an amazing Accrington based company, to provide our services to Accrington based people at an Accrington based club.
“We’re really looking forward to this partnership with the club developing and, as always, are thankful for the support from a local business.”