Dale chief joins call for Boris to Save Our Clubs
ROCHDALE chief executive David Bottomley has added his voice to the Save Our Clubs movement calling on the Government to protect the country’s footballing pyramid.
Mr Bottomley has previously expressed fears for lower league clubs struggling to cope in the harsh financial climate brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.
‘Football is one business closed down by the pandemic but not by Government’
Near neighbours Bury and Macclesfield fell by the wayside in recent years after spells of financial mismanagement – and Mr Bottomley says other clubs could follow suit after being hit hard by coronavirus restrictions, with matchdays going ahead behind closed doors.
Mr Bottomley says that is affecting clubs and local businesses, with no travelling supporters to frequent hotels, bars, shops and eateries.
That is one of the meaasges Save Our Clubs hope to get across to the powers that be. It’s a predominantly northern movement, for that’s where clubs believe they can apply the greatest pressure on the Government.
The Conservative Party Premier League and ourelection Boris and his coland Middleton is a Conhad such an overwhelmselves together to work leagues swept to power by servative MP who comes ing majority at the last out a way that we can all gaining a load of tradiunder the Rochdale election because they survive, keep this wondertionally Labour-held seats Metroploitan Borough won seats in traditional ful pyramid going and – or clubs who have got council area. Labour heartlands like keep clubs sustainable some influence on the “So we tried to make Middlesbrough, Sunderwithin the communities media and are deemed by contact with him and tried land and Grimsby. they ioperate in,” Mr Botthe media to be well run to put forward our case –
Holding on to those tomley told the Observer. clubs. Rochdale fit into we’ve been nice people in northern seats is widely “Save Our Clubs has that category. the Football League since viewed as crucial if Boris been put together by the “We also fit because, the beginning of March Johnson and his party are Football League. I was while Tony Lloyd is but I don’t think the Govto remain in power after asked to join a group of Labour MP for Rochdale – ernment is listening to the the next election. eight clubs that have been and I can’t praise Tony issues we have.
“We believe the Govput together as having highly enough, he’s a sea“Rick Parry produced ernment has to do someeither marginal Conservason ticket holder and has that letter which was obvithing now to get the heads tive held seats – particuthe real heart of the club ously a retort to the Oliver of the Professional Footlarly in the North East of in him – Chris Clarkson, Dowden (Secretary of ballers Assocation, the England where in the last who is MP for Heywood State for Culture, Media on 27
Published by MEN Media, Mitchell Henry House, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton, OL9 8EF. Printed by Reach Printing Services (Oldham) Limited, Hollinwood Avenue, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 8EB and Sport) response that he didn’t believe that any Football League clubs could possibly be in any financial trouble and there was a long-held myth that the Premier League had come directly to other clubs’ help.
“That was not the case, so Save Our Clubs was all about getting in front of Government, not to bang the table and say ‘we need help, we lots of cash from the Government to save clubs – it’s about giving us
●●CONTINUED