Introduction
This is the first in a 2-part blog concerning current issues at Hallam FC. This first part principally poses questions to the club officers regarding recent events at the club.
The recent growth of the club and a good first season at Step 4 will have fans feeling positive. I am concerned that the club is in danger of going backwards very quickly. I have doubts whether a “let’s get this season over with and all will be ok” approach will cut it.
First, a quick summary of recent headline events. At the end of January 2026, very few fans envisaged that, during the next few weeks, these events would unfold.
- On 12 February, it was announced that there would be new investment in the club and new expertise brought to the club. No details were communicated.
- On 13 March, a rumour of financial problems emerged, player wage cuts were implemented, and Sky TV disappeared from the bar
- Also, on 13 March, the first team head coach (Andy Emsley) announced that he had been told that his services were no longer required – he believed this was not a football or financial issue. On 13 April, it was announced that he was returning
- On 24 March, it was announced that the Chairman and Vice-Chairman would be stepping down at the AGM to allow Gino Maccio and Ashley Carson to join the committee and Gino Maccio to become the principal investor in the club. It was also confirmed that there will be new developments in the stadium and clubhouse. A photograph of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Gino Maccio, Ashley Carson and Craig Denton was published on social media. All were smiling!
- On 31 March, Craig Denton then announced that he would be leaving at the end of the season, with two Assistant Managers subsequently also confirming their departures.
- It was then announced (first by Gino Maccio on 2 April) that the changes outlined on 24 March would not be taking place, with the Chairman subsequently confirming on 4 April that he and the committee had decided that agreement with Gino Maccio could not be reached.
All the above have led to concern in the fanbase. I believe fans need to know how the club has arrived at a position of financial difficulties, player wage cuts, and all the coaching staff announcing that they are leaving the club. As well as an announced investment process collapsing.
Fans are entitled to their views and opinions. In his statement of 4 April, the Chairman wrote on the club website, “We remain committed to retaining the community involvement in the club and developing a model that gives YOU our Hallam FC family a say in moving forward”. Posing questions and offering views is entirely consistent with this statement – fans need information to enable them to form a view.
My purpose here is to seek answers to some questions regarding the leadership of the club by the top officers. Nothing in here is a criticism of the club volunteers who do a tremendous job of running the club really well. I fear that the leadership are not doing as well.
Questions
Strategic Leadership and Financial Management
What planning was done to prepare the club for Step 4, particularly the increases in player wage costs, travel costs to away matches, and the costs of implementing changes to meet ground grading requirements?
Was a budget produced to address the above, and to address the income that would be needed to meet the costs?
What monitoring reports on budget issues did the leadership receive and when? What action was taken in response?
To be competitive at Step 4, what does the budget need to be? What is the financial capacity of the club to meet the challenges of Step 4? Can the club do more to increase income via commercial routes and marketing of the club? Do we need to bring in particular expertise in particular areas? Will the club always need investment, via loans or cash injection, to be competitive at Step 4?
What were the Gino Maccio/Ashley Carson proposals that led the club to accept the proposals? What investment was promised? Was this a cash injection or loans? What new expertise was being made available to the club? What were the reasons for rejecting the proposals after they had been agreed? Nothing in here is an expression of support for the Gino Maccio proposal – I do not know enough about it to form a view.
Now that the Ginao Maccio/Ashley Carson proposal has been rejected, what alternative to that proposal do the club leadership have?
Before the proposal was rejected, did Gino Maccio invest money in the club or loan money to the club on the basis that the Gino Maccio/Ashley Carson proposal would be accepted?
Have ‘Directors Loans’ been needed to ensure that the club could ensure payments were made as and when required? If yes, what is the total amount of loans? Are the loans incurring interest costs?
Has sufficient leadership energy been invested in meeting Step 4 ground grading requirements, and were the required actions completed in time? Does the leadership believe that the ground grading review outcome will be positive?
Governance Structure
What is the legal status of the club? I am aware that the club programme states that it is an unincorporated company. What is this in practice?
Is the current and active club constitution and rules document the one dated July 2011?
Have the constitution and rules been reviewed since 2011? I am aware that some changes were agreed at the 2024 AGM to align the rules with some elements of the FA model rules for clubs. Was a revised document produced? In the interests of transparency, can a copy of the correct constitution be placed on the club website?
Have any officers or committee members resigned their positions in the last 12 months? How many of the possible officer positions and committee positions are now filled?
Is a register of club members maintained by the Secretary? Such a register is a requirement of the constitution and rules. How many voting club members are there? In the interests of transparency, can a copy of the register be placed on the club website?
Given that the club has moved up the non-league pyramid and that attendances at Sandygate have increased, has there been any recent consideration on whether the current legal status of the club, and the constitution are fit for purpose?
How many club committee meetings have taken place in the last 12 months? Can the minutes of those meetings be published in the interests of transparency?
Democracy and Accountability
Has any consideration been given to expanding the influence of 1860 Club Members eg by voting rights at the AGM or the election of representatives onto the Committee?
If a Supporters Trust or supporters organisation is established, will the club positively engage with it to strengthen fan influence at the club?
Summary
I want Hallam FC to be a community-focused club. And, like most supporters, I want the club to be ambitious to move up the non-league pyramid. I do recognise there may well be a ceiling on what the club can achieve.
We need an open and honest conversation about what is practicable within the resources we have available. If the club were to seek new resources, it also needs a conversation about the risks involved eg taking on debt etc. We need a shared understanding of what sustainability looks like for Hallam FC.
I hope that the club leadership will respond positively for the request for more information on recent events, and will use the 1860 Club Members meeting on 29 April to engage members in a discussion about the future of the club, how it should be governed and how fans will be engaged with and be enabled to influence decisions.
A copy of the above has been e-mailed to the club for the attention of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman.
Steve Walmsley
Season Ticket Holder, Away Match Regular, Player Sponsor and Pitch Sponsor.
1860 Blog 