Are you sitting comfortably, then let me tell you a story.
Once upon a time, many years ago, there were a group of people who wanted to enjoy playing football. They formed a club, and played every week. It wasn't football as we know it, because there was no professional organisation to set the rules. Eventually a football association was created and so they began to play football in one of the leagues formed.
They had their good times (a few), and they had their bad times (many more!), but throughout it all they were a "proper" club. A club that valued it's fans, a club that had real community values, a club that maintained the feeling of an old fashioned "local" football club.
Then things started to change, and the evil of money reared its ugly head in the world of professional football. With the evil of money now involved, ticket prices went up, shirt designs were re-designed each year. Managers were judged on each game and quickly got rid of when the results weren't as expected.
Eventually, with the greed of money, and lack of loyalty from players and directors, the club eventually gave up. It sank to its knees ready to keel over. Aid was provided, and slowly the club stood up again. Ready to battle on. With the help of a loyal, and hardworking, manager it started to plan for the future. It was even feeling well enough to invite young players back to train in the academy.
Just when it looked like the club had recovered though, the evil of money returned. But this time the evil of money had grown so strong it was unstoppable. It grabbed the club, and shook it upside down, holding it by it's bootstrings. First to fall were the older players. The loyal players who had helped make the club better. Next to fall were the directors who had tried to guide the club back to where it should be. Finally, with a great shake the evil of money shook the manager out of the club.
The loyal fans, those who had watched the good and bad times, sat quietly in the stands and wept. For they saw that another football club had sold it soul to the evil of money.
