Post by Mrs H on Sept 3, 2008 12:19:39 GMT -1
So whilst the credit crunch doesn't seem to have affected the Premiership with record signings and billionaire investors, women's football is suffering.
Poor Donny Belles.
Doncaster Belles, the oldest club in the Women's Premier League, are on the verge of bankruptcy.
The club's future has been put in serious doubt after it lost a major sponsor and the financial blow may force the Belles to close within days.
"We are absolutely desperate," said chairman Jonathan James.
"We'll have to shut the club down after Sunday's match with Arsenal unless we can somehow bring some cash into the club this week."
He added: "At this point we haven't even got the money to cover the cost of hiring a coach to get us down to Arsenal."
The Belles' annual budget is £65,000, an amount dwarfed by the millions spent on transfers in the men's Premier League in recent days.
It would be a catastrophe to see the name Doncaster Belles go out of existence
Doncaster Belles manager John Buckley
"It's an incredible irony that men's clubs have been spending countless millions on transfers this week and we can't raise £500 to hire a coach," said James.
"Doncaster Council and the council's stadium management committee are working with us and we've also had offers of help from Doncaster Council, Doncaster College and Doncaster Rovers.
"But the cash that could be brought in through their efforts can't be raised until at least the end of the month and that will be too late."
Doncaster Belles manager John Buckley said he was saddened by the plight of the club.
"It would be a catastrophe to see the name Doncaster Belles go out of existence," said the former Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United winger.
"The club will be 40 years old in January, and with the best side we've had for some years we had hoped to be celebrating the anniversary in style.
"Now it looks as though we won't even get to be 40."
Poor Donny Belles.
Doncaster Belles, the oldest club in the Women's Premier League, are on the verge of bankruptcy.
The club's future has been put in serious doubt after it lost a major sponsor and the financial blow may force the Belles to close within days.
"We are absolutely desperate," said chairman Jonathan James.
"We'll have to shut the club down after Sunday's match with Arsenal unless we can somehow bring some cash into the club this week."
He added: "At this point we haven't even got the money to cover the cost of hiring a coach to get us down to Arsenal."
The Belles' annual budget is £65,000, an amount dwarfed by the millions spent on transfers in the men's Premier League in recent days.
It would be a catastrophe to see the name Doncaster Belles go out of existence
Doncaster Belles manager John Buckley
"It's an incredible irony that men's clubs have been spending countless millions on transfers this week and we can't raise £500 to hire a coach," said James.
"Doncaster Council and the council's stadium management committee are working with us and we've also had offers of help from Doncaster Council, Doncaster College and Doncaster Rovers.
"But the cash that could be brought in through their efforts can't be raised until at least the end of the month and that will be too late."
Doncaster Belles manager John Buckley said he was saddened by the plight of the club.
"It would be a catastrophe to see the name Doncaster Belles go out of existence," said the former Doncaster Rovers and Rotherham United winger.
"The club will be 40 years old in January, and with the best side we've had for some years we had hoped to be celebrating the anniversary in style.
"Now it looks as though we won't even get to be 40."