Owning a League 2 Football club

So they're free from any criticism, just because they're there? No.

Their debt may partly explain expensive tickets of £27 for adults and £22 for concessions, but to be fair they still get much higher crowds than us so assume the locals are willing to pay it.

Making money from an L2 football club is a rarity, which is why some past owners cashed in on property values and stuffed their clubs. These owners saw a possible way of making money AND benefitting the club by being innovative and manipulating technology. Although some of the ideas looked reasonable, others looked a bit cranky.

Two things worked against them, one of which can be laid at their door and one not. Failing to research football culture adequately was a big miss. They attempted to bring some of the ways of American Football into our domestic game: a bit like housing the royal family on a council estate (or housing a load of chavs in Buckingham Palace). On paper, to someone who doesn't know lower league football, Betsy looked a reasonable choice - but as someone once said, football is played on grass rather than on paper. It was a wonky learning curve for Wagmi, but they eventually got an old lag like Scott Lindsey in. I once had a brief chat with PJ at the bowling alley, about a week before Betsy was sacked. I mentioned that he might need a couple of experienced old lags on the pitch. Furthermore, I hinted that a similar change might be needed too in management, but didn't come straight out with it as it might have been seen negatively. I think the next game was a pathetic loss at Grimsby, and Betsy was gone. I won't take credit for that as I'm not under any delusions about my place in the world, and Betsy was only a defeat away from the sack anyway in my view.

The thing that wasn't down to them was the collapse in cryptocurrency. Although there may not have been an immediate direct impact on the club, due to their having to make financial guarantees for two years, the mid to long-term impact may yet await us. There appear to be positive signs of things settling down on the pitch now that SL is moulding his squad so, in spite of some of my knee-jerk comments at times, I'm not of the view that Wagmi should bugger off.

But I'm watching closely.

When this first came to light he, on someone on his behalf (with or without permission) came out with the statement that it was an accident. Which apparently means you can flog 20% of a company, register the sale on companies house, accidently. With that information Swindon fans started asking some pointed questions.

Further to the pains of owning lower league clubs. Morecambe have had a 3 point d3duction (suspended) but must deposit 125% of their monthly salary into a separate bank account. This was for the non payment of salaries near the end of last season.

As for Wagmi. Can you imagine what would be said about them if any of these things had happened to/with them? Alternatively, imagine what would be being said if the appointment of Betsy had worked out?

Jim Baker