Rec Pitch

[CH]

On behalf of Aldershot Town Football Club, we welcome Yeovil Town and their players, supporters, management and directors to the last Vanarama National League game of the season at the EBB stadium. The match is sponsored by Arch Scaffolding and the ball sponsored by Richard Scott. Thank you as ever for your generous support.

As the season draws to a close, I'd like to take the opportunity to reflect on the financial and operational challenges that we, along with many clubs in the National League and EFL are currently facing.

The Financial Landscape

Being a director of this football club is both a privilege and a responsibility - not only as a custodian of its history, but also as a steward of its future. Whilst matchday results rightly capture the spotlight, it's complex work behind the scenes that keeps the club operational, competitive and sustainable.

Like many clubs at this level, we're facing growing financial pressure. Costs continue to rise across the board - from player budgets and stadium maintenance to travel, hotel, energy, medical fees and security. To give just one example: the government increase in Employers National Insurance contributions from this month will add around £40,000 to our annual costs, putting further strain on an already stretched budget.

The club has been operating at an annual loss of between £300,000 and £400,000 for some time. During this period, Shahid, John Leppard and I have personally injected capital to cover the shortfall, and we remain fully committed to supporting the club as needed. However, for the club to move forward, we must start the process of realigning our income and expenditure. This will require some tough but necessary decisions - including an increase in ticket prices for next season. It's a crucial step to ensure continued investment in the first team and to keep our shared goal of a return to the EFL within reach.

For those who attend occasionally but haven't yet taken up a season ticket, I'd encourage you to join us for more games next season. Every turnstile clicked directly contributes to building and sustaining a promotion chasing squad. Your support makes a real difference.

Operational Challenges

Due to the actions of a small minority, we have been forced to implement enhanced security measures at our matches. While necessary, these measures come at a significant cost. As a result, there will be changes to both the pricing and structure of season tickets for next season to help offset this additional expense. Those who engage in behaviour thay puts others at risk or damages the reputationof this club are not welcome. With your support, they will be identified, rooted out and banned. There is no place for that at our football club, their behaviour has a direct impact on our playing budget. The equation is simple, the more we spend on stewarding and safety, the less we can invest in the first team. Every unnecessary cost off the pitch is a resource taken away from where it matters most - on it

Will type the rest later when I have time

[Mytshot]

Pitch has been a problem for months, it looked better than it has been albeit very over grown. No player or manager would want it like that so Either it needed to be grown out or we’ve decided not to pay for ground keeping.

I think it might be the latter. Reading Deane Wood’s programme notes, it’s clear we are well and truly skint.

What was said?

Main points:
- Club has an operating loss of between £300,000 and £400,000 for some time
- Shahid, John Leppard and Deane Wood have covered the shortfall
- Additional £40,000 cost from this month for NI contributions
- Ticket prices going up next season
- Enhanced security measures at our matches have had a big cost impact

And interestingly……
The club’s former ticketing partner (in the opinion of the club) owes the club over £200,000 from the West Brom and Woking games last season. Legal proceedings are in progress.

[FaithfulShot]

I think it might be the latter. Reading Deane Wood’s programme notes, it’s clear we are well and truly skint.

What was said?

Main points:
- Club has an operating loss of between £300,000 and £400,000 for some time
- Shahid, John Leppard and Deane Wood have covered the shortfall
- Additional £40,000 cost from this month for NI contributions
- Ticket prices going up next season
- Enhanced security measures at our matches have had a big cost impact

And interestingly……
The club’s former ticketing partner (in the opinion of the club) owes the club over £200,000 from the West Brom and Woking games last season. Legal proceedings are in progress.

I’ve heard rumours about the ticketing issue from last year before, but didn’t know how true they were. If its been mentioned then it’s true. It’s the reason we went over to Fanbase. There were some repercussions because of the ticket money but to be honest I can’t remember what they were.

I don’t understand why the club won’t look for new investment, Shahid needs to publicity put the club up for sale or at least investment and see what the takers are. “Always open for investment” is no good unless you publicly put out a statements, rather than saying it briefly in a 20 minutes video on YouTube. You don’t go knocking on people doors to buy houses without a for sale sign up, some applies here.

[Josh]

Interesting. I'm guessing then we are not a sustainably run football club. Did he say why we are losing so much money. I think £23 is already a lot for bottom half, tier 5 football.

[Belgrade Shot]

Interesting. I'm guessing then we are not a sustainably run football club. Did he say why we are losing so much money. I think £23 is already a lot for bottom half, tier 5 football.

£15 is too much.

[brian bloomfield]

If what Deane is saying is correct the P&L at the end of this season will have a cumulative £3,000,000 loss.

So no way can the ground development leave us debt free.

No way can we within the confines of any land / build opportunity build a stadium of any benefit long term.

I propose they turn the club into a Trust.

Everyone including myself write off their shares.

All loans to be paid on a 5 year drip at 50p in the £.

Or just put the club into administration because that's where we're going if we continue this absolute charade.

[Silasgoldeen]

Interesting. I'm guessing then we are not a sustainably run football club. Did he say why we are losing so much money. I think £23 is already a lot for bottom half, tier 5 football.

Thing is that's probably on the low side of National League losses so depends how you frame sustainable. Mainly it's just what it costs to put a team out and travel around the country with it.

[brian bloomfield]

Interesting. I'm guessing then we are not a sustainably run football club. Did he say why we are losing so much money. I think £23 is already a lot for bottom half, tier 5 football.

Shahid has continually said in the past "We are sustainable"

[Silasgoldeen]

If what Deane is saying is correct the P&L at the end of this season will have a cumulative £3,000,000 loss.

So no way can the ground development leave us debt free.

No way can we within the confines of any land / build opportunity build a stadium of any benefit long term.

I propose they turn the club into a Trust.

Everyone including myself write off their shares.

All loans to be paid on a 5 year drip at 50p in the £.

Or just put the club into administration because that's where we're going if we continue this absolute charade.

Said it before but the military town angle must surely appeal to a rich American somewhere. Proximity to London is good too. Heritage. Good loyal fanbase. Lots to like if framed correctly.

[Weybourne Shot]

Had heard of the ticketing issue but truly shocked at the amount of money mentioned, now we know what happened to the West Brom money And also Woking at home which attracted nearly 6,000 our highest gate of the season. No club at this level can suffer such huge loss of income, some 200k was mentioned. I really hope for the sake of our Club that lessons have been learned and obviously pray that the Club are able to recoup most, if not all of the money we are rightly owed.

[Shots91]

Yeah let's not start being one of those clubs who charge £24-25 match ticket.
We're ment to be trying to persuade fans back not push more away.

[Steve Melledew]

Can’t be easy and thanks must go to the directors for putting there own money in, I would say though are they actively looking for more investors or are they hanging on until the supposed development starts to try and get some money back.
Would they sell the club to any interested vetted parties if they had a serious offer or is it a closed shop until the development happens.

Can see it being a real struggle next season with another bottom eight budget, as we’ve seen this squad just isn’t good enough yes we have been unlucky with injuries and pretty sure most of the injured will miss pre season so we will need some decent signings starting at the back where we will have to start from scratch.

[Alf W]

This is shocking news ! I think the BOD need to now put the club up for sale as it is incredible that despite the significant sales income from Stokes/Tolaj; the increased gate receipts above "breakeven", the FA Cup and Fa Trophy runs, the TV receipts we are still making significant losses! This news goes against what we were previously told and with the current set-up it'll mean once again a bottom 8 budget for next year and just a matter of time before we go down,

[HackJowarth]

If what Deane is saying is correct the P&L at the end of this season will have a cumulative £3,000,000 loss.

So no way can the ground development leave us debt free.

No way can we within the confines of any land / build opportunity build a stadium of any benefit long term.

I propose they turn the club into a Trust.

Everyone including myself write off their shares.

All loans to be paid on a 5 year drip at 50p in the £.

Or just put the club into administration because that's where we're going if we continue this absolute charade.

And the Accounts are still overdue at Companies House which causes ongoing concern!

[karlready]

Back to topic:
Those that traveled to Halifax will confirm the poor state of their pitch. Unless they are making expensive alterations and expenditure, it’s likely to deteriorate further…

FC Halifax Town

@FCHTOnline

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Following discussions with the EFL and the National League, it is agreed that Halifax Panthers and Huddersfield Giants can play fixtures at the Shay Stadium, along with FC Halifax Town from the 2025-2026 season.