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We've been here before with ambitious benefactors

A rich individual or individuals buy a non-league club and declare their ambition to reach the EFL and then the Premier League.

OK, it has worked so far with Wrexham who are likely to be in the Championship next season, but they are a former Football League team with a strong support base.


Nene Park: no more

Rushden & Diamonds reached the third tier, but once the benefactor withdrew his money, they effectively collapsed and their neat Nene Park stadium has since been demolished.

AFC Fylde, formed from a merger of two non-league clubs, have an EFL standard stadium, but are currently in danger of relegation from the National League.

So I am a little sceptical about developments in Bedford and I am not referring to the giant new theme park planned for near the town.

In 2021 Peter McCormack, a bitcoin broadcaster and film maker, bought FC and changed its name to Real Bedford.  However, nerger talks with Bedford Town have broken down and they could be playing in the same league next season (Southern League Premier  Central).

In February American cryptocurrency investor twins Cameron and Tyler Winkervoss were brought on board and placed £3.6m of investment on the table.

McCormack argues that Bedford is the second biggest town in the country never to have a team in the Football League only behind Wakefield which is Rugby League territory.   

He maintains that if Burnley can have a team in the Premier League with a population of 90,000, then Bedford can.   The population of Bedford is around 190,000.  What he overlooks is that Bedford is within travelling distance of London and I suspect that the town has its fair share of Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and West Ham fans.

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