The real concern ....

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Expand view Topic review: The real concern ....

Re: The real concern ....

by hector » 08 Jun 2011, 19:46

MuzDog wrote:Agree with the three posts above.

The weather has had a big part to play on last season's downturn in attendances. We have averaged over 2,900 on Saturdays in both of the last two seasons - the big difference is we only get around 1,800 through the turnstiles on Tuesday evenings and there were six midweek games this season as opposed to three the year before.

Improving Tuesday attendances (any suggestions?), a bit of luck with the weather plus the three big "derbies" and the inevitable bounce from having the new grandstand should help us get the right side of 3,000 next season - provided we have a modicum of success on the pitch!
This is the key...if we have a crap season then crowds will drop below 2000, whoever the manager is.

Re: The real concern ....

by MuzDog » 08 Jun 2011, 15:30

Agree with the three posts above.

The weather has had a big part to play on last season's downturn in attendances. We have averaged over 2,900 on Saturdays in both of the last two seasons - the big difference is we only get around 1,800 through the turnstiles on Tuesday evenings and there were six midweek games this season as opposed to three the year before.

Improving Tuesday attendances (any suggestions?), a bit of luck with the weather plus the three big "derbies" and the inevitable bounce from having the new grandstand should help us get the right side of 3,000 next season - provided we have a modicum of success on the pitch!

Re: The real concern ....

by YellowMurphy » 08 Jun 2011, 13:35

This year coming should hopefully be a good financial one with the likes of Bristol, Plymouth, and Swindon making for at least 3 potential sell-out's. There should also be a brief period when the fairweather's come to try the grandstand, see what it's like, also, when you take into account player sales into this coming year (if they're handled right!) I think we can realistically break even within 2 years. We would have to keep up our cup run's though and general excitement, as CP says, without the cup run's, we would be in dire straight's. Let's just hope we get at least 3/4 sellout games this season, and can achieve an average crowd of about 3,000, that should leave us in a healthy situation. The main areas we need strengthening off the pitch is marketing and actually getting more fan's, I think a lot could be done about that. I feel the website has improved since the days of endless nothingness. However when people moan about 'hotmail addresses', it is just nit-picking. A lot to look forward to, but still a bit that could be improved. Looking forward to the season, none-the-less!

Re: The real concern ....

by basil75 » 08 Jun 2011, 11:40

But then again, attendances were brought down by the winter weather and we have more local games next year - I will be extremely disappointed if our average attendance isn't a fair bit higher next year (assuming we don't have another ridiculously extreme winter - although that would be unlucky and unlikely). Plus we don't know the effect of an unexpected baron December had - cash flow may have been an issue as we had no income at all that month - I wouldn't be too surprised if we had to resort to costly means to get the cash we needed that month.

Doubt we earnt much from the play off final in reality - we only got 25% of earnings after costs were accounted for. Low attendance + high cost venue = not much in the pot.

It's very difficult to turn round a large loss to break even in one year. The extent of the loss last year surprised the board, suggesting that they had been rather careless with money, which in turn suggests that we hadn't been running he financial side of the club very efficiently and wasting money needlessly (not a surprise given how the admin side is run). But, it can take a while to find these issues and sometimes even longer to correct them - particularly if tied into contracts - so a 600k improvement in one year is very good and encouraging if true.

Re: The real concern ....

by CP Gull » 08 Jun 2011, 10:28

Having made the OP last night, I am more encouraged by the positive spin placed on our financial situation by Simon Baker in the HE today. He talks in terms of breakking even this year (y.e 30.6.2011) and while that is a huge improvement on the massive losses incurred over the last two years it should also be borne in mind that we have benefited considerably this year with extra income generated from our run to the Play Off Final, reaching the Fourth Round of the FaCup (for only the fourth time in our history) and player sales which include up to c £125k for Elliot Benyon - so it does beg the question how we might have fared if we had had a year sat in mid table and gone out of the FA Cup at the first round stage!!!

He (Baker) goes on to say that they will be aiming to attain break even (or better) over the next year or two - which suggests to me at least - that they feel they have spent what they needed to do to get the infrastructure right and now want to try and operate on an even keel - which is fair enough, although you would hope (as a fan at least) that we don't try and achieve this by curtailing any ambition to improve our league standing and hopefully achieving promotion.

Re: The real concern ....

by Behind-the-Gulls » 08 Jun 2011, 10:16

£1-4 million loss over two years-2008-2010.
£711,000 loss in 08/09;681,430 in 09/10.This included £101,547 pay-out to Colin Lee.
2009/10 -turnover increased by £100,000 to £2.15 million.
2010/11 losses "massively reduced" according to Chairman(may break even).Aiming to break-even next season and the one after that.
All losses "funded". by Cosortium."Minimal bank borrowings-strong cash position".
Financially sound,with Plainmoor Ltd continuing to back club.
"We are in a remarkably healthy position"-Chairman.
Given the situation as described will there be an announcement at the AGM(or when Manager appointed)that the Board are aiming for promotion next season and are prepared(whilst not jepoardising improved financial position) to back the new management team with an increased playing budget?

Re: The real concern ....

by basil75 » 08 Jun 2011, 09:42

I think it's worth just pointing out that the two seasons on the accounts do not include the season that we've just had, just the 09/10 and 08/09 seasons- as I get the impression some believe they include last season.

There is no new information here regarding the losses - we already knew about the 600k+ loss from the 09/10 season from around this time last year and that there had been heavy investment to get us out the BSP in 08/09.

The only new and albeit interesting information is the break down of the accounts, but without knowing the detailed accounts of other league 2 clubs, this means nothing.

A word of caution for anyone that does compare accounts between clubs - they can be manipulated legally very easily and the methods used to calculate things like depreciation etc and what to include can vary wildly - so accounts will not be directly comparable.

Re: The real concern ....

by Bigman » 08 Jun 2011, 09:15

Dutchgull wrote:please can someone win the Euro milions and get us out of this mess !!
I keep trying! Haven't checked last night's results yet, if this afternoon's Herald drops a story about a mystery new owner you'll know I've done alright ;-)

Re: The real concern ....

by SteveDeckchair » 08 Jun 2011, 00:07

Aren't some of the board accountants? Oh dear! :red:

Re: The real concern ....

by portugull » 07 Jun 2011, 22:28

Just read the Accounts. They are QUALIFYED by the Auditors. There are some very serious accounting irregularities whicw beg a lot of questions.Hope to post a detailed comment tomorrow because this is a crucial matter. It looks like a real shambles which should not happen in a business turning over £2million a year.

Re: The real concern ....

by Gulliball » 07 Jun 2011, 22:18

It depends how much of that is planned and covered, and how much is going to be 'debt' the club owes. But two huge losses in a row is going to be very tricky to turn around. We can't afford to lose money for much longer (if at all...). But I very much doubt we're going to be £700k better off next year to break even, are we?

Re: The real concern ....

by Dave » 07 Jun 2011, 22:14

Fonda wrote:The obvious problems the board would have in making a public statement about the state of the club and their plans ongoing, is that it not only alerts other teams to our plight, but it might very well persaude even less people to part with money for season tickets. 'We're skint, and will have to tighten our belts accordingly' is not the kind of positive, inspirational message potential customers are looking for. Like everybody else, i wish general communication from the club was improved, but there are certain things almost better left unsaid.

The main issue, as always is lack of numbers through the turnstiles. It seems evident the club is virtually unsustainable in it's current guise whilst averaging less than 2,500 for home games. It seems obvious there is only so much the club themselves can do to attract new supporters. We all now have to take some responsibility by dragging friends and colleagues along. The only way things will improve is through greater match-day revenue - or by selling our prized assets. I know which i'd prefer.
The Trouble is other clubs can download our accounts from compamies house website and know our plight anyway,i agree with you i would not want our club to wash its dirty cloths in public,a statement of reassurance would not go a miss,that these issue's are under control ,which is vital for our fans.

Re: The real concern ....

by tommyg » 07 Jun 2011, 22:08

Excellent post, CP.

Has the combined £1.4m loss for the last two trading years been covered completely by the Bristows' generosity, or is some of this money borrowed?

Re: The real concern ....

by Dave » 07 Jun 2011, 22:07

Fantastic post Chris,think all will agree,even my stalker will struggle to rip the p#ss out this post,for me the club needs a leader that should be he chairman,is he in command of the club?Not sure that he is,if your not up to it MR.Baker step aside.

Re: The real concern ....

by Fonda » 07 Jun 2011, 22:03

The obvious problems the board would have in making a public statement about the state of the club and their plans ongoing, is that it not only alerts other teams to our plight, but it might very well persaude even less people to part with money for season tickets. 'We're skint, and will have to tighten our belts accordingly' is not the kind of positive, inspirational message potential customers are looking for. Like everybody else, i wish general communication from the club was improved, but there are certain things almost better left unsaid.

The main issue, as always is lack of numbers through the turnstiles. It seems evident the club is virtually unsustainable in it's current guise whilst averaging less than 2,500 for home games. It seems obvious there is only so much the club themselves can do to attract new supporters. We all now have to take some responsibility by dragging friends and colleagues along. The only way things will improve is through greater match-day revenue - or by selling our prized assets. I know which i'd prefer.

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