The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

I don't think a phoenix club, however idealistic that sounds, would ever be a goer. We struggle with crowds as it is, what would it be like at such a low level?

Teams like Chester, Wimbledon, Halifax have historical fanbases of 3-4,000, which had left because of the clubs predicaments at the time. It was just a case of tempting them back, we don't have that luxury, we have a hard-core of 1,000, our "historical" highs were glory hunters with no affinity to the club.

There are also massive questions about where we would play. NP is owned by KC, we couldn't have played there and Hayden Road is out of the question.

The fact is if no-one had come in we would be left with a youth team, if that. Not really going to attract the punters in is it?

Who knows if the Beasants are involved? We can't answer that question until we know the full facts. Have a little patience.

Sadly I have to totally endorse Utto Diamonds comments.
I am feeling really down at present, despite the probably stupid Hoddle rumour,(that is the rumour not Hoddle himself).

I think tomorrow will be the final nail in the coffin. If the Conference wanted assurances then I am afraid they did not receive them. I doubt that the Beasants will even bother to attend the AGM.

+2 unfortunately.

UttoDiamond wrote:I don't think a phoenix club, however idealistic that sounds, would ever be a goer. We struggle with crowds as it is, what would it be like at such a low level?

Teams like Chester, Wimbledon, Halifax have historical fanbases of 3-4,000, which had left because of the clubs predicaments at the time. It was just a case of tempting them back, we don't have that luxury, we have a hard-core of 1,000, our "historical" highs were glory hunters with no affinity to the club.

There are also massive questions about where we would play. NP is owned by KC, we couldn't have played there and Hayden Road is out of the question.

The fact is if no-one had come in we would be left with a youth team, if that. Not really going to attract the punters in is it?

Who knows if the Beasants are involved? We can't answer that question until we know the full facts. Have a little patience.

Well there's not much else we can do when it goes tits up, so we'll have to give it a try at least. Tbh our hardcore isn't even that really, 500 I'd say but that's not that bad really. We wouldn't have the money like we did on our rise up the pyramid last time but who knows a promotion or 2 might bring a few people in like we did last time if there appears to be even the slightest chance of having another glorious rise up the pyramid (though I realise a rise up to league 1 again would be very optimistic thinking). We'd have a year to try and sort something out and maybe we'd be able to sort something out despite the obvious obstacles.

Putting aside the major problems of (a) finding a suitable ground (b) getting sufficient finance, and you can't rely on the funds presently held in trust and pledged to save the current club, and (c) finding people with the ability, time and desire to carry out admin duties and run the new club there will be a delay of at least 12 months before any club can be accepted into a suitable league. By that stage all impetus will be lost and you would be lucky to get a home crowd of much more than 100 to watch the new club.

I'm with UttoDiamond on this one, it's a non-runner in my book.