The
Observer yesterday carried an
interesting article looking at who is bankrolling Hornchurch FC's rise up
the leagues and was unable to put its finger on who is the mystery figure behind
the clubs phenomenal spending in recent seasons.
The club finally seems to have found its stride after a slow start in the
Conference South and beat early leaders Basingstoke Town 6-0 at the weekend,
Steve West (left) getting two and Kirk Jackson (below) two more.
The article indicates that ex-Daggers boss Garry Hill is on more than
£100,000 a year compared with a wage of around £76,000 at the Daggers, however
Hill is quoted as saying "I came here because I needed a fresh challenge
and that challenge is to get this club into the Conference," while
dismissing suggestions that the move was all about the money.
With a wage bill estimated at £1.2million and an income from the gate last
season of an estimated £60,000 there are big questions how the wages can fit
within the Conference wage cap rules of 65% of turnover. This rule has been in
force in the Conference proper since last season, and does not yet apply to
Conference North and South but will come in to effect should Hornchurch clinch
promotion.
This issue is being downplayed though as, despite the expenditure, Hornchurch
apparently made a profit last season, and Conference chief John Moules is happy
that the club are acting within any rules. Moules is quoted as telling the
Observer "We've no objections. During the past 18 months, every club in the
Conference leagues has had at least one visit from the FA to check on finances
and if there were any anomalies in Hornchurch, they would have picked them
up."
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