The Vaughan Effect: A Shadow Over Stockport County

Stockport County’s new era under Dietmar Hamann is marked by big spending and big names. But the association of a new director with the controversial Stephen Vaughan has supporters on alert.

A £2 million transfer fee for Anthony Pilkington, moving from Norwich City to Huddersfield Town, has unexpectedly filled the coffers at Stockport County. The club’s 20 per cent sell-on clause from the deal has fuelled a sudden spending spree, with bookmakers slashing the odds on them winning the Blue Square Premier title. After tumbling out of the Football League last season, this newfound wealth has funded bids totalling over £250,000 for Bury’s Ryan Lowe, Accrington’s Sean McConville and Jamie Vardy of Halifax. Such largesse, however, comes with a familiar sense of unease.

The appointment of Dietmar Hamann as manager, the club’s fourth of 2011, brought a significant name to Edgeley Park and a great deal of media attention. But it is the involvement of another, less celebrated name that has caused alarm. Tony Evans, a twenty-seven year-old businessman now associated with the club, has done little to quell supporter fears.

A Familiar Scapegoat

The concern centres on his connection to Stephen Vaughan Senior, a man whose history in football ownership is a trail of insolvency events at Barrow, Chester City and Widnes Rugby Football League Club. Vaughan is currently imprisoned for an assault on a police officer and is also disqualified from acting as a company director. This disqualification did not stop him from appearing to act as a shadow director during the final days of Chester City after his son had officially taken over.

When this name was rumoured to be involved in a potential takeover at Wrexham earlier this year, supporter fury was so intense that the deal, fronted by Tony Allan, collapsed within days. This phenomenon is becoming known as 'The Vaughan Effect': a reflexive, deeply negative reaction from supporters whenever the name is linked to their club.

Evans, for his part, makes no secret of his relationship with Vaughan. On the contrary, he seems to embrace it.

I know Stephen well. He is a good guy. Everyone needs a scapegoat to blame in football. He was that scapegoat at Chester rightly or wrongly. He invested millions in that football club. He’s got my number. If he wants to ring me and get involved I would definitely listen to him but at this moment in time he is not involved in this consortium.

This open invitation for a disqualified director to get involved is troubling enough. Yet Evans followed it with another curious statement, asking, "You tell me someone who has been successful who has not had a company go into administration. If the fans have issues with that, then actions speak louder than words".

Actions Speak Louder

This may be a defensive posture. At the end of last year, three of Evans’ own companies, seeus2save.com, Accident Assistance and Clear Bike Insurance, entered administration. His attitude towards corporate failure could certainly be described as blasé, a trait that might give any potential creditor pause for thought. This sort of talk, combined with sudden, ambitious spending, echoes the patterns seen when Vaughan first arrived at both Barrow and Chester.

There is no concrete proof that Vaughan’s money is in Stockport County.

The connections, however, continue to surface. The club’s new shirt sponsor has also sponsored a boxer from Vaughan Boxing Promotions. It could all be coincidence, a series of unfortunate associations. But the Vaughans' reputation precedes them, and after years of decline culminating in a psychologically traumatic relegation, Stockport supporters are understandably desperate for a change in fortune.

The Blue Square Premier is notoriously difficult to escape. The investment in the squad might make Stockport County next season's Crawley Town, storming their way to promotion. Or it could see them become another Notts County, a cautionary tale of fleeting ambition. In the worst-case scenario, they could become the next Chester City.

For now, fans must watch and wait, remaining vigilant for any further signs. A pre-season friendly is currently scheduled against the supporter-owned Chester FC, and some of their fans are already questioning whether the match should go ahead.