Barnet launch fund to increase squad
Barnet Football Club has launched a fund with the aim of keeping their promotion challenge going.
The reason for the fund appears to be that Barnet are close to breaking the wage-cap applied by the Conference. The Bees have a squad of 23 players (Hereford United have 19 players in their squad) but are said to be concerned that they are not on a level playing field financially with other promotion or play-off candidates with bigger crowds and more finance to help swell their squad budgets and bring in new or loan players.
Barnet say that current runners-up Carlisle United have more than double the financial resources available to Bees manager Paul Fairclough.
Chairman Tony Kleanthous has explained to supporters that Barnet's playing budget has already been utilised by the arrival of new players in the summer, improved contracts being given to several successful first-team regulars such as skipper Ian Hendon, seventeen-goal Giuliano Grazioli and Simon King and the signings of several promising youngsters for the future.
Meanwhile Barnet fans are being asked to show a "Red card to the council" at half-time in the local derby televised game with Stevenage next Sunday. Tony Kleanthous says that Barnet will cease to exist if the stadium and ground problems are not resolved.