Rochdale – the ‘Lazarus club’ without an enemy prepare to take on Man Utd

I was a boy at the time of our crisis, new to my club, but heady in love with it. I remember the carousel of faces in the local press, men in ties and jackets – directors, chairmen, liquidators, lawyers, accountants – and while I didn’t understand what they did or were up to, I knew my club was in grave trouble.

At some point in the lifespan of our support, many of us who are lengthy, one-club, do-or-die fans will most likely face this dreadful situation.

No matter what measures are taken, it seems our clubs, to varying degrees, will be disrespected, mistreated or, at worst, pillaged from within. Afterwards, we will still hold high the badge, the idea of the club, but the infrastructure may be devastated; several clubs, much like Bury, have been forced to start all over again.

We need to be on our guard and keep a look-out on who is passing through the reception area of our clubs and making themselves at home. Who are they? Why are they there? Where do they come from? What do they want?

A pattern soon emerges. Long-term directors, usually weary of the battle, are usurped or augmented in the boardroom. The newcomers, following standard business acumen, quickly realise that the ground on which the club stands is its biggest single asset. It is sold or leased and the money raised used to purchase ‘better’ players.

Such level of investment in routine, non-sporting businesses almost always guarantees success, but not in football. The team often starts to fail, attendances drop, pressure mounts and, off the pitch, matters can veer from complicated to impossible.

There will be protracted repercussions of Bury’s demise. The EFL will be called to task. There will be calls for new regulations. All this will help but one of football’s greatest assets, its parochialism, is also its principal weakness.

Clubs are sovereignties, where people pass through. Some are kings, others are pawns. Most, men such as Kilpatrick and Morris, are selfless and hold to the principle of club above all, but others are on the make and the take and if they know nothing of the heart of football, tearing it out comes easy.