Chasing The Deadly Dream

Barely a year after a takeover, Dagenham and Redbridge are the latest in a suddenly large list of National League clubs that are struggling for funds.

It has been little more than ten years since the ambitious Daggers ditched their 'owned by members' model to become the limited company that Football League rules demanded. Promotion to the fourth tier followed and a nine year stay followed. Relegation in 2016 sent them back and began their money troubles.

A consortium sealed a takeover in January 2017, coupled with a £1.3million injection, after the members turned shareholders voted in favour of the deal. That cash ran out early in the current season with chief funder Glyn Hopkin resigning his Board position and ceasing further cash injections at the end of 2017.

Hopkin blamed, in part, a campaign by supporters to oust the club's Managing Director, with a string of flags - including a North Korean one - displayed at games to infer the official's running of the club was akin to the secretive state.

On the pitch the club are five points short of the play-offs, having failed in last season's lottery to regain a spot among the 92. Out of both the FA Cup and Trophy at the first hurdle, the club have now circulated to clubs that they have 'a number of players' available for transfer. With no names listed, it usually means they will listen to any offers. First out the door was England C striker Morgan Ferrier back to old club Boreham Wood, while Sam Ling joined Leyton Orient. Both within 24 hours of the circular.

However Dagenham are far from the only club in trouble. Chester and Hartlepool have had their problems highlighted in recent weeks, while the mistrust over Torquay's owners continue and Woking's long awaited takeover leaves them in mid-table obscurity.

A step lower in the pyramid, Telford are only in existence due to the generosity of Wolves and their use of the ground for second string fixtures, while York City are claimed to need further seven-figure funding to secure their future before a move into the new stadium that was first due for completion in 2010 but has barely begun construction. Their long time majority owner, Jason McGill, has set an ultimatum to the minority owner, the Supporters Trust, to hand over their shares to ensure he continues to fund the sixth tier side, having needed to put in £90,000 last month to cover the wage bill.

Chasing the Football League prize is beginning to look like a very deadly dream.