Hashtag United ask to be relegated from league

Hashtag United have asked to be relegated from the Isthmian Premier League for the 2026-27 season, due to what it describes as "unsustainable" finances.

YouTuber Spencer Owen founded the Essex club as an exhibition team in 2016, filming and uploading their matches online.

The team later entered non-league football, playing home matches at Parkside in Aveley, and were promoted to the Isthmian Premier League in 2023.

In a post on social media, Owen said he wanted to sign the "best players", but "not at the cost of our staff's jobs".

The club sit 18th in the table and a point above the relegation zone.

An Isthmian League spokesperson said the Football Association (FA) would decide whether Hashtag could drop to the Isthmian League North Division.

Teams in the division below usually do not have to spend as much money on travel, hospitality and player wages.

Owen criticised a lack of governance in non-league football.

"The finances are unsustainable at almost every level," he said, writing on X.

"Moving to step four (Isthmian League North Division) will mean significant budgetary savings that will be reinvested into other key parts of the business at a crucial time, including employing more people while we significantly invest in building home attendances at our new ground."

The Tags share Parkside with Aveley FC but plan to share with Redbridge FC in east London from next season.

In his statement, he also pointed to the "unprecedented spending" of some non-league teams, referencing Wrexham, who have soared to the Championship after the investment by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney.

The FA was contacted for comment.

Hashtag have enjoyed three promotions in eight seasons since joining the football pyramid.

But they appear to be eyeing a return to their roots, as BBC Essex sports reporter Warren Muggleton suggests.

"They boast over two million followers across all social media channels, competing with Premier League sides for exposure," said Muggleton.

"Having set up their All Stars team earlier this year, featuring influencers such as Sidemen member Behzinga, this move to drop out of the Isthmian Premier suggests the Tags have intentions to compete in a different sphere."

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