Desperation is Spelled D-o-h-e-r-t-y

By: chris | January 21st, 2008

A few weeks ago there was a story about KFC Uerdingen, the fourth division German side which is currently in the midst of a battle against dissolution. They had their eBay auction, which failed to make a dent into their €250,000 debts, only managing a €4,110 bid. Not that they were expecting it to be a one-off solution to financial freedom, or anything. Well, it appears they got together, brainstormed and decided that the best idea was to ask a certain celebrity for help. A celebrity who, at least at one point, can count himself amongst the club’s adoring fans. Ladies and gentleman, enter part-time rocker, full-time drug addict, Pete Doherty.

I don’t think I need to say this, but when you’re calling out for Pete Doherty’s help, you’re in deep, deep shit. I can’t imagine there’s much ammo left in the magazine or much they haven’t tried yet (they’ve hit eBay twice already).

Apparently Doherty spent a part of his youth on a military base near the club’s base, and beveloped a certain “affection” for the German club, who at the time were actually successful, with a UEFA Cup (or whatever it was called back then) semi-final run to their credit.

Doherty’s manager is saying Pete is interested in helping out, by failing to say whether or not he’ll cut the check:

“I know he has some affection for the club and he would be happy to do something if he has time,” Hunter said.

I won’t pretend to know much about Pete Doherty other than what I’ve seen in the news (though Babyshambles is a good listen), which is mostly just a copy a paste job from the latest police blotter. But while it’s certainly an act which is based in dire need from the German club, one can’t exactly write it off. A certain British musician with a dodgy past including serious drug abuse had some pretty significant success with another fourth division club way back in the day. The club was Watford, and that musician was none other than the legendary Elton John. (He was a slightly bigger face/name than Pete is at the time.)

Back then Watford was in the fourth division, like KFC, and within 6 years they’d reached the Prem/First Division, which is no small accomplishment. So while this may be desperate, it may just be crazy enough to work. Actually, it is working to some degree. After all, here’s no such thing as bad publicity.

* - And it appears football is calling Petey from all corners. Alex Ferguson’s god-daughter is claiming she’s having Pete’s baby. Pete’s denying:

“Pete says he doesn’t know who this girl is.”

Methinks Pete’s next in line for one of Fergie’s famous hairdryer treatments. (And Becks says to watch out for flying boots.)