WORTHING FC AND ALBION’S TRIP TO VILLA

Working on the pitch must have been a welcome respite for Morty after a very difficult week off the field, culminating with an emergency supporters meeting on Friday evening.

The bottom line is that Worthing have been hit by a double whammy, an ongoing cash flow problem brought about by the lack of home matches and the continuing repayment of a near six-figure debt to an existing director.

You can’t odds the weather and the inevitable postponements it brings. And, clearly, the Rebels are not alone with that problem in local non-league football. But it’s the other debt that really throws more questions than answers.

Speak to anyone in and around the club and “off the record” they say the problems run deep and go back several years.

Who is ultimately responsible for the Rebels’ current plight?

The names bandied around almost make up a who’s who of local non-league football.

Should it be ultimately blamed on the first manager at Woodside Road to ever pay a player?

How far would you have to go back to that one, to the days of Vince Taylor and co?

Figures now being bandied round about the revised budget put the Rebels on a par with what a County League team were allegedly paying to win County Division 2 back in 1994. Things are that drastic.

There was speculation last week that some supporters felt it was time for Morty Hollis to finally step down. But is that either feasible or the right thing for the club? Who would replace him?

There are, I believe, any number of people initially interested. But would that interest wane given the current level of debt?

Lewes FC’s financial problems are testament to how chasing the dream can go badly wrong. If anything good can come out of that situation, it’s the likes of Worthing don’t go down the same route.

n The massed ranks of the Albion support seem to be gripped with FA Cup fever this week with the trip to Premiership Aston Villa.

Once again, the Albion ticket office has come in for some criticism for their handling of the sale of the club’s allocation at Villa Park.

They cannot win whatever they do, until Falmer comes and the said fan base have enough seats to go week in, week out.

For the 6,000 lucky enough to have a ticket, there is a prospect of a great day out.

Can the Albion upset the form book and provide a cup shock?

By the time this column is published, Villa could already have a Wembley date in the Carling Cup and, with a midweek game with Arsenal in less than seven days, it’s possible Martin O’Neill could field something other than his first choice 11.

Will that be enough to upset the apple cart? I’d be happy with a draw and a replay the week after next, so I’m going for 1-1.