The parent of a Dagenham player issues a message to fans about a worrying situation at the club following an FA Cup defeat to Spalding.
The Daggers, who currently sit 21st in the National League South with 7 points from 9 games, were dumped out of the FA Cup Third Qualifying Round by Spalding, who are 4th in the Southern League Premier Central division.
Haigh put Dagenham ahead on 13 minutes, before Ceesay levelled four minutes later by slotting into the far corner from a tight angle, then Roberts sent a direct free kick into the top right corner from 25 yards just before half time.
After the game, Paul Struge, a parent of a Dagenham & Redbridge player, wrote posted a heartfelt message urging fans to reconsider abusing players amid poor team performance.
He reveals the players are worried about the club’s future and their careers due to financial issues, with owners hesitant to invest and uncertainty over wage payments.
He defends the players, noting their desire to improve despite the lack of support and an ineffective manager.
Struge asks fans to think of the players’ situation, while directing their anger at the ownership, and support the team, hoping for positive change in the near future.
Paul Struge wrote: “This is my first post on this forum and I’m sorry for it being such a negative one.
“Firstly I want to say this is a great club and the fans and players deserve so much better and I really want to see that happen.
“But I’d like to ask fans to think twice before giving the players abuse like what happened today and previous games.
“My son is one of those players and yes the results have not been good enough for what a club like this deserves.
“The players know that, speaking to him this evening and he is heartbroken by today’s result.
“But unfortunately I don’t think the fans fully appreciate what the players are going through right now, and the abuse I’ve seen is getting to the point where I don’t care if I get in trouble now for saying something.
“The players are just as worried as you fans about the future of the club, and their careers. Even Carroll isn’t in the know enough to tell them what’s going on and in fairness to him he is not happy with this either.
“Whilst he wants things to progress ASAP all he is aware of is that these owners are having second thoughts and the lads now know that there is now a money problem at the club.
“These new owners will not have more money invested on their behalf until they have made their mind up, and the existing custodians will not invest a dime either.
“Which is why these players are not getting additional support they want in terms of signings and clearly why they haven’t paid off this useless manager to leave.
“Then as many probably now know the squad have been told that it’s not certain if their wages can be paid in full without someone investing money into this club.
“I completely apologise and know their performances are not up to scratch for what a club like Dagenham & Redbridge deserves.
“Most of these players are all aware of this and are not satisfied with their results. I do see that they want to do better for this club.
“But I’d expect fans to start seeing the human side of things and ask themselves how would you perform at work when you aren’t even sure if you will be getting paid going forward.
“I really hope things can change for the better as the fans on the whole have been amazing to my lad. It’s a great club with a great set of boys in the squad too.
“But they are being let down by the ownership just as much as you fans are. So please think twice before aiming any abuse at them in the future. Be angry at the right people, please.
“I really hope that we see things change and everyone gets what they deserve. Thanks and COYD”
Here’s how fans reacted after the parent of a Dagenham player issues a message to fans about the current worrying situation at the club…
John Brooks: If this is from who I think it’s from then spoke with him after the game. Nice fella and dont think he would put anything on here if it wasn’t true. He’s only saying what we should have been told ages ago. And as for the abuse the players got. I agree it’s not gonna make them play better. I know it’s frustrating not winning when we know they are capable but put yourselves in the same situation. If your bosses said we might not be able to pay your wages would you still give 100% i know i wouldn’t.
Tony Dolby: John Brooks when Southend was nearly going out of business every other week there players played with blood sweat and tears ours barely play
Chris Rodway: Clearly obvious something was not right. Said a month ago the last time a team stank the house down was when Arthur Daly pulled the plug
Aaron Freeman: Maybe the club should release something to squash any speculation and maybe put fans at ease
Martin Young: I said months ago, why would the new supposed owners not want people to know who they are unless there were severe problems . Its fairly obvious that all is not well
Darren Coles: Very worrying if this is the case . I fear for the future of the club
Michael Rayner: Its heartbreaking what is happening to our wonderful club someone has to grow a pair and get it sorted whoever it is coyd
Leigh Dormer: If this comment is true we really are in the sh@t
Sean Clayton: Isn’t it about time we fans consider taking ownership of the club ourselves. Look at Wimbledon, it worked there. I have no idea how to go about it but a fans owned club is the only option moving forward.
Thomas O’Shaughnessy: Sean Clayton Fan owned clubs range from Potters Bar Town to Barcelona and all shades in-between. There are these options. 1: Take over an existing club i.e. Exeter City 2. Form a phoenix club i.e. Aldershot, Macclesfield or 3. A breakaway club. ie Clapton Community, Wimbledon .Another good example of this is Enfield Town who we play soon. They are playing at a higher level than the original Enfield. There is lots of support if the mind is willing. I know of some
Roy Miller: It’s about time all supporters realised a club with Dagenham’s gates etc cannot be run at Conference level without a willing financial donor – and has been like that for a long time.
It’s nobody’s fault – it’s just a hard financial fact. Unfortunately there are plenty of chancers who think they can “do a Wrexham” with limited funds – and when it doesn’t work quickly the bottle out of putting more in. The abuse of the players during and after games in the last couple of years is a f**king embarrassment, and if anyone thinks it will help in any way then they have no idea of how to motivate people at all. Slagging off sections of the support is just as bad too, although thats mostly keyboard warriors on here … Whoever owns the club are the decision makers – and that’s not Thompson either. He runs the club for the owners. No shares, no say. It’s a shitshow yeah – and I’d say it’s not going to get any better anytime soon unfortunately unless a new benefactor decides they want to p*ss some cash away – if I was in that position and then heard some of the grief coming from the stands I’d bin the idea immediately…
Alan Torr: I think it’s obvious things aren’t going well behind the scenes. Why else would there be virtually no update regarding the new owners. Bad results = bad publicity. It doesn’t bode well at all and we can’t blame the players. They’ve all got rent, mortgages, families. Pretty hard to motivate yourselves in the situation they find themselves in. Praying for the league results to turn around, and some official updates soon.
Andrew Cruikshank: Needs to be a change club is rotten to the core. Itโs like the decision makers sell us to the highest bidder without doing any form of background checks at all! Probably the poorest run football club on the planet!
Ryan McCarthy: Now we really are fucked…
You must be logged in to post a comment Login