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Added Friday 29th May
After the glorious success of last season's betting tips (Brackley, anyone?), remember you heard it here first. Leamington will win the league this season. Don't me ask how I know, I just do. Tune in this time next year for my prediction of where the Yeltz will finish in their first season in the Midland Alliance...
Added Tuesday 26th May
Relations between the club and fans haven't improved in the week since I last posted. Morell Maison has said, predictably, bugger all, whilst Guy Simpson has answered queries on the forum without saying a greater deal more than his master. There is talk of fans boycotting games whilst Maison is in charge, and whilst that is entirely understable, I'm not sure it's the way to go. True, it might hasten his exit, but it will also quicken the death of this incarnation of Halesowen Town, as there is no-one yet ready to step in, and nor should they until the full extent of Maison's financial ineptitude is revealed. In the meantime fans staying away will mean fewer players being paid and, probably more importantly, fewer local creditors getting what is due to them. One of the sorriest indictments of Maison's reign is the way in which he has made local businesses jump through hoops for what is rightfully theirs. The club is already insolvent, will making it even more insolvent change anything? The other point is, I suppose, that I support the club, not the clowns running it so I want to see the team play, but equally, if a boycott will help force him out, perhaps that's a reason to stay away.
Added Tuesday 19th May
It had to happen. The Yeltz Trust (see their excellent website - www.theyeltztrust.co.uk ) has finally tired of the club's antics and issued this press release. You can't work with people who take your support for granted and give nothing in return. It is clear now that the expulsion from the FA Cup is down to unpaid monies to Maidstone United. The full story is here. I mentioned on Sunday that Guy Simpson's whereabouts are unknown; well, he is back on the scene after a family holiday. He's probably allowed that. I'd be interested to know how much he knew about this latest fiasco though, I'm guessing not very much as Mr Maison appears to have a nasty habit of keeping matters like this to himself.
Added Sunday 17th May
It seems fairly common knowledge now so I'll expand (not literally, although those trousers don't fit like they used to) on Friday's rumours. The FA listed all next season's entrants into the FA Cup and Trophy and the name of Halesowen Town was absent. Surely an admin error? Possibly, but equally likely (or, let's face it, far more likely) is the fact the absence is an FA sanction made because of unpaid monies owed to Maidstone United and Durham City after we played them last season. Nothing has been confirmed because the club has kept extremely silent on the matter. Guy Simpson, the new Chief Executive and, until now, a good source of information, has not been heard from either in person or on the Yeltz forum, which in itself has led to speculation about his continuing position at the club.
All in all, it's an absolute shambles that not only impacts financially on the club but also tarnishes its name in the wider world of non-League football. Good cup runs can set up a club financially for a couple of years but the inept manner in which the club has been run since Morell Maison has taken over has precluded even this small opportunity. It's my view that this club cannot progress with the current regime. Let's look at the facts; we have a 'manager'/owner who is banned from all football activities for 3 months and from the touchline for a year, the club may or may not be insolvent but has unknown debts probably in the tens of thousands of pounds and it has been banned from two of the best sources of revenue for next season.
I have no doubt that there will be further revelations this summer and it is far from certain that the club will take its place in the Southern League next season. Midland Alliance here we come...
Added Friday 15th May
Did I say final nail in the coffin? The news starting to filter through today (and it's not official yet so I'm not going into detail) will be the last straw for virtually every supporter of the club. If it's true then there will be a big backlash against the current regime as they are now putting the future of the club in real doubt. It can't go on.
Added Thursday 15th May
There's been no official news from the club but the Halesowen News is reporting that Morell Maison has had his footballing ban reduced to 3 months. There is an additional 12 month touchline ban on top of that but it is the ban from all "footballing activity" that is the big issue. It is for the club to sort out how they are going to handle this one but it's the final nail in the coffin of a truly dismal season.
Added Sunday 10th May
There's been a post-season dearth of news from the club, so consequently it's been quiet here as well. As ever with Halesowen Town there are some disciplinary updates though. Chief Excecutive Guy Simpson has, quite rightly I think, decided against appealing the three point penalty imposed over Lee Canoville's registration. It costs money and the points don't matter so why bother?
Tomorrow is the big day for Morell Maison's appeal against his ban over the Dean Brennan boxing bout. I would have thought anything's possible there but there will be all sorts of repercussions if the ban is upheld. Watch this space.
Added Monday 4th May
A belated congratulations to Gloucester City who beat Farnborough 1-0 in the play-off final on Saturday. Nuneaton Town and Didcot Town won their finals so will be mixing it with the big guns in the Southern League Premier next year.
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