The unfortunate recent descent of Bromley FC

A 'glamour' FA Cup trip to League One Leyton Orient left many interested outsiders with the impression that Blue Square Bet South side Bromley FC are a club rapidly progressing in the right direction.

We love an underdog and, with non league clubs often struggling for mere survival, we love it when a minnow makes a splash in the world's favourite cup competition.

There's an interesting back story with Bromley that has also captured the imagination - the involvement of Mark Goldberg. If his name sounds familiar but you are not sure why, think Crystal Palace. Bromley would appear to be something of a fall from grace for the former Eagles dictator, but it was all looking promising for his side in pre-season.

Goldberg seemed to have all of the required resources at his disposal to push for a promotion spot. An opening day victory at Hampton and Richmond gave early indication that all Bromley supporters were right to feel a sense of optimism ahead of the campaign. As the new-year approaches the buoyancy has been substituted by anxiety as the Lilywhites sit dangerously above the relegation places.

Since the FA Cup third qualifying round success at Dartford on October 29, Bromley have suffered seven consecutive defeats in all competitions and exited the FA Trophy - non-league's version of the FA Cup. They are even out of the Kent Senior Cup. A side that ran Orient close in the first round proper are now looking at the possibility of relegation battle.

It's happened before and it will happen again. The glory of a draw against a league side in the first round of the FA Cup is often surrounded by poor form as players focus on an opportunity to make a name for themselves. Yeading's DJ Campbell is a prime example of what can happen. He impressed in an FA Cup third round tie against Newcastle and went on to play in the Premier League.

His manager at the time, Johnson Hippolyte, has also suffered the 'Bromley syndrome' in the Blue Square Bet South this season. His Maidenhead United side marched to the FA Cup first round and a wonder strike from Anthony Thomas left Aldershot Town having to rely on a scrappy late equaliser to secure a replay. Yet, a side that performed so well against a team from two divisions above them struggled to pick up any points from league games before the first round tie, and it has been a similar story since. We could even have a situation where the Magpies will be battling it out with Bromley at the end of the season for the right to stay in Blue Square Bet South.

After suffering defeat against the Os, Bromley's financial disposition was called into question when three members of the first team squad were released by mutual consent. Harry Harding, once considered the key in the club's quest for promotion, was one of the names to be relieved of his duties. Apparently, mutual consent was the explanation for the inability to pay the midfielder's wages leaving his advisors with no option but to tell Harding to move on.

Warren McBean was another name to be axed due to the same, unexplained theory of mutual consent. This release was perhaps the most surprising as just over a month before his dismissal, McBean grabbed two goals in the FA Cup win at Margate to set up the victory at the Darts. His untimely release left plenty of questions that are still yet to be answered.

What a difference a month can make in the fortunes of a football club. After the morale-boosting performance at Orient, Bromley fans are wondering what the rest of the season holds for their side.