TerrasBlog 31/12/2008

Morning readers, a very happy new year to you all. I hope it is filled with Terras related joy and plenty of three point hauls.

I want to focuse this morning with more news of football clubs enduring the recession. Just a few weeks after reaching their hands in their pockets for Weymouth FC's "Save our club" appeal, Yaxley FC (my local side) has released the following statement regarding their 2008/09 budget. 

Yaxley FC - NEWS/PRESS RELEASE

 

9.15pm - Tuesday 30th December 2008

 

Recession hits the Cuckoos and players rally to the call ....

 

The Yaxley FC management committee met with senior players and coaches
at the club this evening (Tuesday 30th December) evening to address the
impact on the club of the current global economic downturn.

 

The club informed players and management of the 1st, Reserve and under
18 teams that the playing expenses budget has had to be slashed by more
than 50% for the remainder of the 08/09 season - and it's a move that
other clubs may likely be considering.

 

President Jeff Lenton explained to the meeting that common sense must
rule in light of the impact of the current recession. "We have already
experienced a significant reduction in sponsorship and other income
generated throughout the club and I don't think we will be alone.

 

Like most non-league clubs, we survive on 3 main sources of income i.e.
sponsorship, match day receipts and general fund raising from social
events within the membership and local community.

 

The gap between incomings and outgoings is just getting bigger and we
all need to accept that it's not going to get any better for a
considerable period of time. There's less money around and what money
there is, is being spent cautiously if spent at all - we are not immune
from this and nor I suspect, will other clubs."

 

Christmas and New Year is the traditional time when clubs across the
land review spending and it's not unusual to see budgets cut and players
moving on to other clubs. But the committee at Yaxley say that the
recession is making this year different - this year, whilst it's likely
that there will be more players thinking about moving on to greener
pastures, there is less money around, clubs won't want to take on
players and pay to have them sitting on the bench and therefore more
players will probably stay put.

 

"It's a fact of life that there will always be some players that follow
the cash but I think this year, as more clubs hunker down for survival
there won't be many looking to increase their spend on players -
probably just the opposite - unless of course they have very deep
pockets.

 

 And the club says it's not just players expenses that are under
scrutiny" Three match officials for a home game can now cost us more
than the whole team ... this is out of proportion and it's difficult to
see how it can continue. It's not the league's fault, it's just happened
over time. The financial means to maintain the current levels are
disappearing so we have to react else face the consequences sooner or
later.

 

We have the opportunity to use the recessionary environment to bring
costs back towards reasonable levels - get something positive out of it
- it's not all negative.  I have spoken to other clubs that are equally
as concerned and considering approaching the United Counties League to
help reduce the financial burden on clubs for match day fees together
with the impact of funding mandatory ground improvements that are due by
the end of March 09."

 

The club says that 1st team manager Gary Clipston has been a key
contributor and absolute rock both in helping to plan a way through the
challenging times and implementing the plans.

 

Citing Clipston as a shining example of what a clubman really is the
club committee said. "Clippo's attitude is always "can do" even if he
sometimes he's not sure if he can. His relationship with most of his
players is special and their loyalty is regularly demonstrated
especially when the going gets tough and uncomfortable."

 

Lenton said that at the meeting, much respected Andy Lodge and Hamish
Curtiss had joined Gary Clipston in a touching call on all the players
from the senior club to rally to the cause and stay united in the
challenge of finishing the league in as higher position as possible. "It
was a very special moment when Andy and Hamish both stepped up and
addressed the meeting so positively, it meant a lot to everyone there
and especially me."

 

 

Yaxley FC has a history of more than 100 years and the whole management
committee is committed to ensuring  that the club survives the
recession. The plans for the new facilities were put on hold 3 years ago
when a protracted legal dispute over access threatened the whole project
and delayed things to the point that the main developer withdrew his
commercial offer. Since then the club has moved into more temporary
style building to allow the old buildings to be demolished, making way
for the new ones.

 

"We have a considerable asset base at Leading Drove that by design, is
ripe for development. We have planning permission to construct the
facility AND we have the membership numbers to operate a profitable
business AND there's plenty of scope for further expansion," said
Lenton.

 

"I need to find a handful of like minded business people to join our
holding company as shareholders and/or Directors and participate in
reworking the commercial proposition to build and operate the new
facilities that the football club uses. It's an exciting and worthwhile
project and an odds-on profitable investment."

 

The club's management committee sees the next 12-24 months as an
opportunity to re-plan and respond to the commercial realities of a
recession. "To ensure our survival, we need the club as a whole to live
and operate within its means. The days of beneficiaries with bottomless
pockets have probably disappeared for at least a couple of years."

 

 

Further information available from Jeff Lenton   (0788 7722 105)

I am sure you will join me in wishing the club all the best in getting Leading Drove sorted.