
Rushmoor Stadium, Cherrywood Rd
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Cash-strapped Farnborough 'in perilous position'
By Jon CouchMarch 07, 2013
SPENCER DAY has pleaded with any potential suitors interested in investing in Farnborough FC to act now in a desperate bid to halt the club’s recent slide both on and off the pitch.
The cash-strapped club are believed to be on the verge of entering into administration once again, with a combination of ongoing historic debt, false promises from interested parties and falling attendances all contributing to a serious lack of finances at Cherrywood Road.
And with the club unlikely to earn any major source of income until their next home game on March 23, Day admitted time was running out in keeping heads above water.
To make matters worse for Day, the lack of finances is also now affecting form on the pitch with the one-time Blue Square South high-fliers taking just one point from clashes with two clubs in the bottom three this week – a dour 1-1 home draw against AFC Hornchurch on Saturday followed swiftly by a 2-1 defeat at Billericay Town on Tuesday night.
With that in mind, it is hardly surprising that with the club facing four more away trips in close succession, Day believes the time has come to act.
He said: “We need money now, we need new supporters now, we need investment now, we are in a perilous position.
“We’re not talking huge sums of money, fans helping with the odd fiver or investors making a sensible bid to buy the club, anything would help because at the moment we do not have anything.
“This football club is a fantastic opportunity for someone to make money and the debts we are talking are not huge, but when you have nothing they become huge.
“We are past interested in negotiating at great lengths to people who talk a great game but never put any money up and just disappear, we need serious proposals from people who really want to help.
“We are working incredibly hard to try and do what’s best for this football club and all options are being considered.”
Indeed, crippling finances have seen the club being forced to release a number of key first-teamers in recent weeks.
And the trend continued last Thursday when Reece Jones was let go with the club unable to afford to pay his wages.
In Jones’ place, however, arrived another Fulham youth loanee in the shape of giant striker Richard Peniket and the 20-year-old former Welsh Under-21 international made an immediate impact, scoring both Boro’s goals this week to give Day hope that he can turn around a wretched run of form which has yielded just one win in the last seven matches.
In truth, Farnborough put on a much-improved performance than in recent games at Billericay on Tuesday night, but a combination of missed chances at one end and sloppy marking at the other cost them dear.
The home side's trademark long throw led to their opener on 12 minutes, Boro half-clearing Junior Luke's up-and-under to Glenn Poole, who swung the ball in for Jay May, although Boro believed his looping close range effort over Ross Worner took a final touch off his arm.
Still Boro kept plugging away, however, and should have gone in at least level at the break with Dave Tarpey’s dangerous cross just eluding Peniket, while off-colour Reece Connolly could only blaze over when in a good position to score.
Day did not have long to wait for his side to finally break through. Josh Huggins’ long ball forward found the marauding Peniket, who managed to escape the attentions of the on-rushing keeper Sam Beasant and roll the ball into an empty net.
But the high spirits were not to last for long as within seconds Billericay were back in front. Capitalising on an injury to Marcus Moody down the right, Luke centred and Sam Lechmere volleyed an effort into the bobbly surface and over the out-stretched Worner into the far corner.
Twice Dan Bennett could, and should, have beaten Beasant at his near post when put clean through late on but, with gaps appearing as Boro piled forward, Worner was forced to produce a fine save from substitute Alex Osborn.
“I'm hugely disappointed,” Day said afterwards. “We worked extremely hard and passed the ball a lot better and the least we deserved was a draw.
"But when you are not finishing your chances at one end and making basic errors at the other then that's what happens.
“It’s just that touch of quality at either end of the pitch which is eluding us at the moment and we are getting punished for every little mistake we make.”
At least it was a marked improvement on a woeful home display against Hornchurch on Saturday which did little to entice more fans to complement a dismal crowd of 386.
Debutant Peniket came off the bench following a miserable first-half and caused problems straight away, but it was the visitors who went in front on 69 minutes when striker Martin Tuohy was given the freedom of the penalty area to firmly plant an effort beyond Worner.
But battling Boro drew level nine minutes later when Bennett’s corner fell at the feet of Peniket and the loan striker prodded the ball home amid a crowded penalty area.
Captain Alan Inns and Huggins both had efforts desperately scrambled clear by the visitors as Boro pushed for a winner, while at the other end Worner was forced into two crucial late saves to dent Chris Bourne and Michael Spencer.
Revenge will be the name of the game for Day’s men on Saturday when they go to Eastbourne Borough, looking to avenge a shock 1-0 home defeat to Sports just two weeks ago.
Steve Laidler sits out the second of his two-game suspension, but Ollie Treacher is hoping to shrug off a slight knock.

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Most recent user comments 6 of 6
Grass roots football in this area is dying,which is so sad as some of the clubs struggling have got over a 100 years history behind them, if they go where does the footballer that is keen to play but is not up to the level of Farnborough. Aldershot and the likes play, something HAS to be done to help teams
11/03/2013 at 14:54 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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I know of a number of clubs lower than farnborough who are really struggling , some of these have over 100 years history behind them. what happens to the footballer who plays at this level if they fail,? its time that the leagues helped these clubs.
11/03/2013 at 14:54 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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11/03/2013 at 12:51 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Farnborough FC needs you lot out there before it's too late.
08/03/2013 at 17:06 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Tony &Yvette (supporters)
07/03/2013 at 18:59 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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Tony &Yvette (supporters)
07/03/2013 at 18:57 Offensive or Inappropriate?
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