NOTTS LANDING
After 131 years, 4,986 games and 7,043 goals, the world’s oldest league club crash out
Fifteen minutes after notts County had lost their place in the football League, Alan Hardy cut a solitary figure in Swindon’s directors’ box, the abusive chants of supporters ringing in his ears.
then he went down to perch in the deserted away dugout, staring into space some more.
‘i feel just numb, absolutely devastated.’ he said. ‘i suppose it’s what football does to you, it seduces you and sucks you in.
‘i don’t really know what i’m thinking, i need to let it sink in. i’ve been reflecting on the journey of the last two years, what i could have done differently or better.’
Basically he was lost for words, and many County fans — plus the owner himself — may feel things would have been different if it had been that way since he bought the club in 2017.
the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and, as a supporter, Hardy probably meant well by piling in millions of his own money.
investment was not the problem, but his loose tongue and displays of ego, in public and on social media — he somehow included a picture of his penis during one twitter spat — alienated many. Hardy subsequently issued a statement: ‘As owner, i take ultimate responsibility and apologise to our fans.
‘Conversations with prospective new owners are ongoing and i expect a deal to be completed in the near future.’
the task of trying to restore league status will be an onerous one and even manager neal Ardley is unsure who will undertake it.
there has been no shortage of interested parties since the ‘for sale’ notices were posted in January.
Consortiums from South Africa, Australia and one with links to Sheffield United have been circling a club that, by the end of Saturday’s 3-1 defeat, looked worryingly like a carcass.
Yet any buyer will know that County have plenty to offer, even if their financial plight is precarious. they have history by the bag load, including 4,986 league games going back to 1862.
the fanbase is robust, with 2,300 loyal followers there on Saturday. And then there is the initial parachute payment of around £500,000 they will carry into the national League.
Most of all, Ardley pointed out, they need stability and planning.
the former AfC Wimbledon boss represents, staggeringly, the 25th managerial regime at Meadow Lane since Sven- Goran eriksson was fleetingly employed as director of football 10 summers ago.
Ardley was stark in his diagnosis, and his call for a quick sale
‘the national League is littered with really good old football League clubs and ultimately there is no quick fix here,’ he said.
‘if it’s not done until the end of May you’re behind, people go away on holiday, people are off. You come back in next season and it’ll be tough to turn things round.’
While some clubs have resolutely bounced back — Luton going up as champions from League One are a timely example — there are also others such as Wrexham in the fifth tier for more than a decade.
Ardley does not know if he will be hired for next season. ex-Magpie Shaun Derry and Solihull Moors’ tim flowers are among those who have been linked with the position.
Whoever it is will not have much to work with, Ardley bluntly declared: ‘nothing. that is the truth of it. Players who aren’t in this team will be here next season.
‘these loan players go back, and after the ones who leave, you will be left with not a lot.
‘But relegation is always a chance to start afresh.’
‘I’m numb. Football seduces you and sucks you in.’ OWNER ALAN HARDY