FC United of Manchester, a club originally founded by disenfranchised Man United fans opposed to the Glazer family's ownership, has found itself in financial difficulty.
The Moston-based club rose to prominence when it was created in 2005, and is staunchly anti-debt, having been founded by a group of United fans in protest to the Glazers' debt-heavy ownership structure at Old Trafford.
11 incredibly successful years and four promotions on, however, and the club has admitted that it may need to apply for an overdraft in order to address its "worrying" financial position.
A club statement to stakeholders and fans read:
Our finances are behind where we expected in a number of areas.
The board needs to alert supporters to the possibility that the club will need to apply for an overdraft around December 2016. We are in a worrying financial position.
The BBC reports that FC United are on course to make a loss at the end of this year which, in addition to an impending overdraft, will leave it unable to reimburse numerous lenders. These financial difficulties have been put down to a staffing structure deemed "not fit for purpose", and an "unrealistic" financial plan for last season.
18 months ago, FC United opened their £6.3m home at Broadhurst Park with a prestigious friendly against Benfica. It was supposed to be 'the end of the beginning' for the 11-year-old semi-professional club. The season, however - despite on-field successes - was marred by off-field issues.
At one point, a packed general meeting was adjourned for a month, in part owing to voting irregularities. The club's final home game of the season was stopped for five minutes when protesters invaded the pitch. There were also concerns about the club's finances, and its ability to keep the St Mary's Road End terrace functioning fully.
The club unfortunately now teeters on the precipice of becoming a microcosm of what it once despised.
