Desperate Times Call For Desperate Daggers Measures

Dagenham & Redbridge find themselves embroiled in a financial crisis, with the club looking for new buyers as soon as possible, Lewis McKean reports.

In a recent club statement, it was explained that the club’s takeover by Mr Glyn Hopkin, who had recently purchased 74% of the club, had taken a setback, with Hopkin stating that he would resign as a Director of the Company, but to remain as a minority shareholder. He will also no longer fund any further shortfall in the running of the company, and it was agreed by the four members of Hopkins’ consortium to try and find a new buyer for the club as soon as possible.

Hopkins’s gave the reason for his resignation as: “the disunity within the supporters and in particular the vicious campaign over several months to have the MD dismissed.”

Ceased Funding

The statement goes on to say: “Whilst £1.3 million was raised by the initial allocation of shares this has not been sufficient to cover the losses incurred last season and also this season. Whilst Glyn Hopkin has funded the overspend, this funding ceased on the 31st December 2017. This has obviously caused some problems and adjustments in our playing squad have already taken place with some further player releases almost certain to occur over the coming weeks.”

Player Releases

The ‘further player releases’ promised are certainly coming to fruition, with a substantial list of players leaving the East-London side since the turn of the year. Kevin Lokko has returned from his loan period at the club to his parent club Stevenage F.C., whilst Elliott Romain has also gone out on loan, joining Torquay United until the end of the season. The Daggers also announced that both Joe White and Liam Gordon signed a one-month loan with Isthmian League Premier Division club Hendon FC.

In terms of permanent deals, striker Joe White has signed for League Two side Stevenage FC for an undisclosed fee. Forward Morgan Ferrier – the side’s top scorer this season – has signed for Vanarama National League side Borehamwood for an undisclosed fee. The club has also confirmed the departure of Sam Ling, who has signed for Vanarama National League side Leyton Orient for an undisclosed fee.

Stuck In A Rut

Dagenham & Redbridge have found themselves in somewhat of a rut in recent weeks, with the club slumping to 10th in the National League. The East London club have recorded two wins, two draws, and six defeats since the start of December.

As one of the league’s highest scoring teams, with 48 goals scored, it is clear that The Daggers concede too many goals. Having tasted defeat in recent games to Solihull Moors, Sutton United, and Borehamwood, everyone at Dagenham is very aware that they have got on the scoresheet in these games but have been let down by needless defensive errors. The feeling from angry fans is that selling top goal-scorer Morgan Ferrier may result in even poorer results in the coming weeks.

Speaking after the Solihull Moors game on the 27th, Dagenham manager John Still spoke of the resources he has at his disposal for the remainder of the season: “We’re not in a position to change players or bring players in, so I’m going to have to work with what we have.”

Tough times ahead for Dagenham, as they look to be the next of many National League sides struggling for survival in recent years.

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Lewis McKean is currently enjoying undergraduate study in Sports Journalism, at the University of East London. Lewis is a Camera 1 operator for BT Sport's Vanarama National League highlights show. This role involves filming all of Dagenham and Redbridge's home games and interviewing each team's manager, giving Lewis key access to the club as a member of the press on match-days. Aside from football, he also regularly reports on basketball and volleyball at university, forming important and useful links with players and coaches from each club respectively. Along with an enjoyment for Formula 1, he is also hugely interested in several more obscure sports, such as Taekwondo.