STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIRMAN - JANUARY 2022
News from the Wincham Park boardroom
I write by way of update on all matters since my last statement. My sincere apologies for the delay in reporting sooner but much has been ongoing as we battled through Covid 19 and indeed continue to do so.
The AGM was held on the 22nd July and was in the main, a low key affair. Good news apparently, is boring! Our Year End Accounts posted for June 2020 showed a £3,900 profit which was a remarkable achievement from the £111,000 loss from the previous year.
Well done to everybody involved. Having reported such positive news to shareholders the business was conducted in under an hour.
Our finances, whilst in generally good shape continue to be an ongoing concern. The future does not guarantee government support and there is a simple reason Witton Albion were not linked with Messi in the summer! Economic reality! We have a stadium which is the envy of many. But it is costly to run. We cannot survive at this level on our attendances alone. Northwich now has four clubs which further dilute the fan base.
We have worked hard to create other income streams to supplement gate receipts. One of those areas is the Social Club, which enjoyed its best ever twelve months under Jackie Beasant. Then the pandemic struck and functions were naturally cancelled. Other areas have had to be developed to make up the deficit.
Stadium Rental agreements with League 2 Club Barrow, BBC and ITV have supplemented already good income from Northwich Victoria and others. A record.
Commercial revenue enjoyed its best ever period too. In addition to board advertising and sponsorship, we agreed our 5 year stadium naming rights agreement with local firm U Lock it. My sincere thanks to Mike Roberts and Julian Jackson for making this happen.
As part of the U Lock it deal, the frontage of the stadium which was looking “tired” has had a much needed facelift. Many of you may have noticed the improvement. At a cost of approximately £40,000, this was entirely funded by U Lock it. The stadium now looks immaculate inside and out. The club has also invested heavily in a tractor to assist with pitch maintenance. Our ground staff, like the Board and all other staff are unpaid volunteers. Groundsmen are all of similar age and this new equipment makes life much easier.
In recent years, Club volunteers I knew personally such as Pauline Chesters, Vijay Anthwal, Terry Murphy, Des Heesom, Cyril Westwood, Peter Williamson and club matriarch Pauline Spruce have sadly all passed away. In addition, benefactors like Bob Nancollis and Freddie Collins are no longer with us.
Bill Wright, Gordon Knop, Eric Finnigan and Derek Buckley have all been suffering from ill health. Our thoughts are with them. Many more have stayed away due to Covid and several others have retired. Forgive me if I have missed anyone else.
The point is that a failure to engage with community or youth in the past is catching up with us. A plea for new replacement volunteers of the required standard has largely been met with deaf ears. Gaps are starting to appear!
Turning to matters on the pitch, I would say as follows: The league is now extremely powerful. One team is full time! We are very lucky to be playing at this level. Those who pay their entrance fee are entitled to an opinion. However, this does not automatically make them a referee, manager, coach, tactician or Company Director! All in the space of a couple of hours on a Saturday. Any criticism should be tempered by factual knowledge.
I have steered away from referring to the job Carl and Gary as miraculous. Not now. It is! In a league that we are some way short of the average budget, they are frustrated by clubs offering huge sums to players elsewhere. They work hard and are trying constantly but we cannot compete financially with many clubs. There were frank discussions and disagreements at Board room level before giving them the budget they currently have.
The average fan is not fully aware of all of these facts. If they were, they would realise how lucky we are to have them. As my predecessor said on a number of occasions “Be careful what you wish for!”
To rectify the situation, the board are considering a 3G surface as this will increase revenue and make the business self sustaining. A failure to embrace this will mean perennial struggle and reliance on Directors loans or donations. We will not bet the ranch! A number of clubs who adopted this policy have suffered enormously as a result! Reliance on one or two benefactors leaves clubs in an extremely weak position when they decide to cut their losses. The Chairmen of Basford and Lancaster have already done so this season. Others will no doubt follow.
Our strategy is based on cutting our cloth accordingly. Our dues and demands are all paid. The stadium is debt free. The critics of this policy (we get very few compared to some) give very little other than opinions. They talk the talk but do not walk the walk!
The board are unpaid volunteers giving hours of their valuable time keeping the club going. With the losses in manpower I mention the job is getting harder. They owe a duty to shareholders who are no doubt happy. The question we should be asking ourselves is whether we should have a club at this level at all. Be careful what you wish for!