Anyone Got A Few Bob On Them?? Fancy Owning Lewes?

[Mendoza]

Lewes put up for sale
10:14am Wednesday 5th November 2008

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By Howard Griggs »

Lewes have been put up for sale.

A statement was released by the Blue Square premier strugglers this morning outlining the club’s precarious financial position.

Directors have appealed for help to get the club through a difficult period and say they are willing to listen to all others, including selling the club.

The statement reads: “The Board of Lewes Football Club met on Monday night to discuss the current financial position along with the budgets to the end of the season.

“Although prudent budgets were set for the season there have been a number of circumstances that have affected the club that have led the club to review the current position and consider the best way forward for the club.

“The exit from the FA Cup has added stress to the current financial situation. The current credit crunch has meant that some new funding options have not materialised. We now have to reassess the position as the club is under severe financial pressure. The lower gate receipts have also put pressure on our cash flow.

“It is with the best interests of Lewes FC that the board are willing to listen to all and any offers of financial support up to and including the sale of Lewes FC to suitable interested parties.

“It must be stressed that certain criteria are attached to any full sale of the club that would involve the commitment of the new owner(s) to continue with the youth, under18, reserves and ladies’ sides, something that the present board holds dear to theirs and the community’s heart.

“For the future good of Lewes FC, the club are interested in talking to any parties wishing to get involved with the football club at any level of contribution. The directors are now looking for further help to ensure that Lewes FC can move forward in these difficult times.

“If you are interested please contact Martin Elliott at the club on 01273 407975.”

 

[champion7]

How much are they asking as i'm planning on emptying my penny jar later
should be about £300 in it.

 

[the viscount]

The directors and who owns the club have brought this on themselves with the way they went about things in the summer and i think they have caused all of the problems they now have on there hands. One of the biggest mistakes they made was appointing K Keehan as Manager.who in my eyes does not know a thing about the actual way of the game and how it is played.

Perhaps they may now relies the error of there ways i very much doubt it.

 

[champion7]

The directors and who owns the club have brought this on themselves with the way they went about things in the summer and i think they have caused all of the problems they now have on there hands. One of the biggest mistakes they made was appointing K Keehan as Manager.who in my eyes does not know a thing about the actual way of the game and how it is played.

Perhaps they may now relies the error of there ways i very much doubt it.

Correct.

 

[BensGrandad]

Could they not go down the route that Ebbsfleet did and make it a a community owned club?

 

[champion7]

Could they not go down the route that Ebbsfleet did and make it a a community owned club?

We could all chip in and make it a feeder club.

 

[andybaha]

I think they have been spending money they didn't have for quite a while now. It's a shame that they achieved their goal of playing in the Blue Square Premier but can't afford to stay there.

Appointing KK was definitely shooting themselves in the foot. I can see why they did it but the fans were hardly going to jump with joy at having a manager with no managerial experience.

Ultimately they don't have the fan base to support football at this level. Clubs like Lewes and Eastbourne have no real football heritage, that's why they end up taking 11 fans to Wrexham and 16 to Northwich. Unless someone is pumping money in they cannot survive. Eastbourne are lucky that they have the bowls club etc.

 

[BensGrandad]

We could all live in hope that a Russian or Arab Billionaire comes in and buys BHA and then DK could put his money into Lewes.

 

[Albion Rob]

I think they have been spending money they didn't have for quite a while now. It's a shame that they achieved their goal of playing in the Blue Square Premier but can't afford to stay there.

Appointing KK was definitely shooting themselves in the foot. I can see why they did it but the fans were hardly going to jump with joy at having a manager with no managerial experience.

Ultimately they don't have the fan base to support football at this level. Clubs like Lewes and Eastbourne have no real football heritage, that's why they end up taking 11 fans to Wrexham and 16 to Northwich. Unless someone is pumping money in they cannot survive. Eastbourne are lucky that they have the bowls club etc.

Think Eastbourne could possibly sustain a Conference side but Lewes is surely far too small?

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The problem with buying Lewes FC seems to be that one of the liabilities that goes with it would be Kevin Keehan's contract.

He plainly can't do the job - either as team manager or as the guy who is responsible for bringing in the external funding to keep the Club running at the level they are now playing.

But, according to today's Argus, the Directors of Lewes FC can't afford the costs of sacking him. They've invited him to resign, but he has refused.

So any new owners would either have to live with a manager who can't do the job, or they'd have to pay him off.

Add in the existing debts of the Club and the whole deal looks very unattractive.

I can see Lewes in administration, with a 10 point penalty, very soon.

And I can't see the administrator being able to put together a rescue package either.

RIP Lewes?

 

[champion7]

Does anyone know what his contract is.

 

[Dave the OAP]

We could all live in hope that a Russian or Arab Billionaire comes in and buys BHA and then DK could put his money into Lewes.

is the correct and very astute answer

 

[Trigger]

RIP Lewes FC.

Well done to all those involved in the shambolic summer, I hope you are dead f***ing proud of yourselves.

xx

P.S. Keehan, do one.

 

[Barry Izbak]

Perhaps the eleven fans who went to Wrexham could have a whip round and realise the huge potential of the club.

 

[BensGrandad]

Like many clubs in Sussex the people at the head of Lewes got above their station and reached out too far. A number of the senior non league clubs have done the same and only Eastbourne Borough seem to have been able to continue the journey.

 

[Pavilionaire]

Invest in Lewes FC?? Those shares make Bradford and Bingley look like Microsoft.

 

[Dandyman]

Like many clubs in Sussex the people at the head of Lewes got above their station and reached out too far. A number of the senior non league clubs have done the same and only Eastbourne Borough seem to have been able to continue the journey.

Or possibly the club got beyond the point of Martin Elliott's need for a front for his property development plans...

 

[Mendoza]

do they accept NORMAL money or do you have to use pretentious Lewes pounds which help save CO2 emissions??

 

[BensGrandad]

Wages are probably a big part of the problem as was stated in the match report their 3 biggest earners Danny Cullip. Michael Standing and someother, I cant remember his name, was missing. Clive Walker once told me that he earnt more playing for Woking than he ever did playing for BHA so I wonder what their 'big' earners ' are on to drop out of the league.

Steve Evans said on SCR that when he took over Crawley the average wage was about £1500 per week, which with their crowds, is impossible to maintain, so with Lewes crowds what could it be.