WE FEEL that we must make our feelings known with regard to the recent events at the Middlesex Stadium [home of Hillingdon Borough FC].
A great opportunity to restore the club to its former glory days is being shamefully wasted by this split between the owners of the club and the newly created Sportsman Bar.
After such a successful campaign last season in winning the Southern League Cup and a creditable league position, the team only needed a couple of new faces to challenge for promotion.
After the departure of Steve Ringrose and the entire squad it will be a struggle to even survive this season.
We understand lack of funds was responsible for this action. It is not surprising that money is tight if the football club are not receiving at least a percentage of the bar and food takings.
After all, if it was not for the supporters at the games the Sportsman Bar would not even be selling drinks and food to those supporters.
Most non-league clubs need off field activities such as a clubhouse to survive.
Until we are convinced that a percentage of the money we spend in the Sportsman Bar goes back into the football club we will not spend any more money in there - we hope every home and away supporter follows suit.
Personally we think the owners of the Sportsman Bar are so short sighted due to the fact that if the Boro climbed the leagues, more attractive clubs would be coming to the Middlesex Stadium, bringing more fans, hence a busier bar and an increase in takings.
We feel so strongly on this subject as we witnessed Slough Town's similar situation at Wexham Park a few years ago, where the very attractive Mayfair Banqueting Suite and bar was opened by the owners.
But it soon became evident that no funds were going back into the football club, and they were eventually forced out of their own ground as the owner was not interested in financially backing the football club at all.
The Boro's present situation is a replica of what happened at Slough Town.
We appeal to owners of both the football club and the Sportsman Bar to unite and turn this into a top football club, sports bar and night club. There is such an opportunity for success on both sides if it is managed and planned correctly.
Just to finish - I sat down with the ex-chairman Mr Lovell many years ago, who I believe financed the present ground and the clubhouse.
He assured me that the shameful events that forced Hillingdon Boro from their original home at the Leas Stadium would not ever be allowed to be repeated at the Middlesex Stadium.
It is a good job he cannot witness what is going on there now.
MALCOLM AND SANDRA PAYNE,
Swan Avenue, Brigstock, Northants.
