Context
I have been following Hallam on a regular basis since November 2021 after I gave up on fully professional football. It always appeared to me that the club was well run with great volunteers and all was positive.
That remained my view until September 2025. I went along to observe the club AGM following notification via the 1860 Club. The lack of clarity about who had the right to vote was concerning, but even more concerning was the presentation of a simple balance sheet as the accounts, the procedural argument that followed it and the break up of the meeting. It had the feeling of a club that was not well governed. Alarm bells began to ring. Further research identified that the club was not abiding by its own constitution in some areas.
On 12 February 2026 the club made a statement regarding new investment and expertise coming to the club with further details to follow. On 13 March 2026 social media posts started to circulate regarding pay cuts for players and the loss of Sky Sports in the clubhouse. Some players left. Subsequent confirmation of the Gino Maccio arrangement being implemented, and then its abrupt cancellation left the club more up in the air.
Positives But….
In recent weeks there has been some more positive news regarding a possible new legal structure, progress on ground grading developments (if not yet sorted), attempts to recruit a new manager, pre-season friendlies and the concept design of a new home shirt. All this is welcome, and fans who don’t take an interest in the background issues might think that everything is back on track. And that is no doubt the impression that the Committee are attempting to present. But there are significant doubts about……
The Fundamentals
Governance
The club must now be a £300k turnover business that is being run as an unincorporated association. A new and well-functioning structure is needed. The committee have now agreed to explore an alternative structure and the FSA are attending the open meeting on 11 June to explore the options. If the preferred route is a Community Benefit Society this may take some time to establish and be registered with the Financial Conduct Authority. It might need a quicker short-term solution to improve the position until a CBS can be established.
Financials
We may not see the financial position for 25/26 until later in June for the AGM. And even then, will the committee present a better picture than the simple balance sheet that was attempted in 2024 and 2025 which led to the accounts not being approved? Will we see a projected budget for 26/27? Will there be confidence in the financial position going forward? What confidence do we have that the position will have significantly improved and we have a competitive Step 4 budget?
Strategic Leadership
It’s possible that all the difficulties that the club has experienced recently can be overcome and that the current leadership can set a positive course for the future. It’s also possible that they cannot, and that it is time to say thanks for their past efforts because new leadership is needed. Sometimes the leadership of an organisation have taken the organisation as far as they can do. I think the players who love the club, but have nonetheless departed, have signalled what they think, and I agree with them. It’s time for a change at the top at Hallam FC and for the Chairman and Vice-Chairman to indicate that they will stand aside to enable fresh leadership to come in from outside.
Fan Engagement & Influence
The last few months have demonstrated the need for really effective fan engagement and for effective fan influence at the club. To be truly a community club Hallam either needs to be controlled by a CBS, or controlled by a different legal structure (eg company) with a separate organisation for fans eg CBS that has effective influence. This is something that can be explored further as part of the 11 June meeting with FSA.
Motivation
Following previous involvement in football club politics I had no intention of getting involved in it again. But recent events have sucked me back in. Whatever certain accounts on social media may say I am not doing this for personal position. I want so see the club with ambitious effective leadership. I want transparency, accountability and democracy to be alive in the running of the club and for supporters to be significantly engaged in the running of the club. I hope that these things can be delivered as soon as possible.
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