Hereford manager Josh Gowling keeps himself busy. Last Sunday he's writing in the Non League Paper and this morning he's in the Guardian.
His latest article is about clubs going into administration.
He was with Bournemouth when they fell into financial trouble in 2008 and the current problems at Derby have, he writes, rekindled those memories.
Now with Hereford Gowling says clubs must remember they are playing with people's lives when administration strikes at whatever level.
"As manager of Hereford I can draw upon those lessons from the past, particularly regarding financial stability and value to the local community. Our club was re-formed in 2014 after Hereford United, where I spent time on loan after leaving Bournemouth, were wound up. The pain of that time still informs plenty about how we work: we are very cautious about how we operate within our budget, knowing that the city of Hereford cannot lose its club a second time. There is a proud Football League history here, so explaining to our fans we cannot buy the best players in our division – National League North – is not always easy. But we need to make sure the club is around for a long time after all of us have gone, so that is how we run it.
"Supporters just want to have pride in their club and feel close to it. At the highest level players can become detached from the public but we’ve got guys who are relatable. At our level they may not be earning more than those who watch them.
"On Saturday, after our 1-1 draw with Leamington, we held a boxing night where the lads were with the fans watching Anthony Joshua’s fight. We have a range of other initiatives in the works, going beyond football, such as a series of events where we try to build bridges between ethnic minorities and the police. Our fans stuck by us in dark times and we will do anything for them: our club has to be at the very heart of the community.
"The same applied to us at Bournemouth and is true of Derby, too. There is a long road ahead but I am sure they will find the right buyer: hopefully one who understands how profoundly local people need their club."
Read the full article at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2021/sep/27/clubs-need-to-remember-that-they-are-playing-with-peoples-lives