Stockport County, are another side, currently struggling with their local council. There is controversy over whether or not they should be given money by the local council to sort out their ailing finances. On the one hand, the side are a vital aspect of the community, putting the area on the map, and bringing in vital business for the local area. However, we are in a recession and with cuts by the local council to schools and health budgets, it does seem difficult to justify the argument that the local council should be helping out County more. A football club is a business like any other, so it should be able to stand on its own two feet, rather than relying on the council and taxpayers money.
As well as the bigger teams, smaller grass roots teams are also struggling, many like Tower Hamlets have had their funding cut by local councils, and are now struggling to survive. Too many councils have sat by as their community clubs have died. The benefits of a local side in the community cannot be understated, they promote the neighbourhood, and provide employment and enjoyment for all.
There are some councils who have done more to help out their local clubs. Oldham Athletic, Stevenage and Tranmere are just a few who have received the full support and backing of their local councils. It seems not all local councils are unwilling to go the extra mile to help their local side, when they see what they bring to the area.
It’s tough to weigh up whether councils should do more to help. On the one hand a football club is likely to be the biggest source of revenue for the council, as well as a centre of community life. However, in the harsh economic climate we are in, it is difficult to see what more local councils can do without sacrificing vital services elsewhere. Local councils have a duty to their residents as well as to their football clubs and that is something they have to balance.
The article was written by Lauren Rutter for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.
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how can you say tha liverpool council have been less than supportive regarding the stadium? LFC have had planning permission in place since 2002 for a new stadium on Stanley Park, its not the councils fault they havent got around to starting it! all the neccessary consents are in place the onus is on the club.
Agree with most of your points re Tottenham. The local MP has been a pain, and various additional costs have been piled on. There has however been some excitement on Spurs sites in the last week.Boris Johnson has supposedly given a commitment to help Spurs get regeneration money. Over the last 4 or 5 years Spurs have spent over £50m buying most of the land around White Hart Lane- in the last fortnight virtually all these properties have been bulldozed, leading to a certain amount of speculation about the clubs plans. However most people believe this may be an attempt to avoid paying rates on these properties- but who knows there maybe developments for a new White Hart Lane.
In light of the riots at Tottenham it is clear to everyone in the country that should Spurs leave the Harringay area that the whole of Tottenham, Edmonton and Ponders End will be blighted.
Spurs are a football club first and foremost so it is unfair to pin hopes of an areas regeneration on them.
However, common sense from the politicians and local transport authorities to provide the assistance to make plans viable would enable the club to stay in the area that it historically belongs to -which is the aim of everyone that has the clubs’ interest at heart while at the same time providing the engine for social change in an area that now resembles an urban battlezone.