The Ongoing Saga of Notts County

I will say this first about Notts County, nothing is never dull there. It has been just over 2 months since my first piece about the Magpies, and there has been a whole host of developments.

Munto Finance, the shady Middle Eastern investment company turned out to be nothing more than a front for a crooked structure based in Britain. There were no wealthy Arab oil sheikhs, just a guy with a shady past trying to cover his tracks. Especially when connections to Kim Jung-Il the secretive and elusive leader of North Korea (part of the axis of evil) was uncovered, with an unspecified “gift” being given to him.

Munto have been replaced now, Peter Trembling has taken the club over. Quite was his finances are unsure. There are a host of people speculating that Sven, who has earned millions in his career, may put money into the club. But hang on, that’s not what he signed up for. He signed up for £2.5 mill a season (of which he was earning considerably less, with much promised in shares in more shady companies in the umbrella of companies investing (i.e. money laundering) in Notts County.

For Forest fans, the mocking County gave us at the start of the season about how soon they would be back to the top of the pile in Nottingham, it is almost amusing. We have always had a certain kind regard for County. Wanting them to do better than to fail. This infuriates County, who hate us, and the feeling has not till this seen been reciprocated. Now with their new brash manner, you begin to dislike them in the same way man City have rubbed a number of people up the wrong way in the Premier League

Peter Trembling, who was merely the mouthpiece before is in charge. Now you could argue that maybe he has liked what he has seen enough to invest, so things must be ok? It would appear no, manager of 7 weeks Hans Backe just this morning walked out the club after complaining about “broken promises.” One can assume he was promised vast sums, and has been told there will no longer be money in January to spend.

There was also the news when Trembling took over he will be looking for investors in the club. That’s never good news. Just look at Portsmouth over the last 6 months. Each successive new owner there has talked about securing new investment. The fact is in the world right now, with the economy in tatters, there are not people on every corner wanting to fling millions into clubs finances that seem to have been modelled on a house of cards built on quicksand. Indeed, just look at their fellow nicknamed Magpies, Newcastle United. Mike Ashley has been looking to offload a club with arguably one of the best foundations in terms of large ground, huge support and a Premier League infrastructure, and no-one wanted to touch them with a barge pole.

Sven says he is staying, but Sven is still trying to sort out the money he is owed in a Swiss owned mineral firm. My guess he is merely holding out on resigning till he gets this cash. Once it appears if it ever does, then Sven will get the hell out of there as soon as possible. The whole scheme seems to be poisoned.

It would appear one of the most unlikely dreams in the football league in completely unravelling. I would hate to see it become a nightmare and see County slump in the second half of the season, and god forbid enter administration. There has been talk the likes of Kasper Schmeichel and Lee Hughes, the much heralded summer signings may already have to go. Large wages and potential fees would entice County to get rid to cut costs that presumably they cannot sustain any more.

Let this be a lesson football clubs. Those people promising the world may be actually delivering nothing at all. It’s been a roller coaster of a ride thus far, and we’re still unsure where it’s all going to end.