CLUB STATEMENT

[Kev Panther]

SKELMERSDALE UNITED A.F.C. CLUB STATEMENT



THE SKELMERSDALE UNITED MANAGEMENT BOARD WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A PUBLIC STATEMENT REGARDING THE CLUBS CURRENT SITUATION AND THIS IS TO AVERT ANY RUMOURS TO THE CONTRARY.
YOU WILL NO DOUBT BE AWARE THAT CERTAIN PLAYERS HAVE SOUGHT TO LEAVE THE CLUB THIS IS PURELY FOR FINANCIAL REASONS. IN LIGHT OF OUR CURRENT LEAGUE POSITION AND PERFORMANCES WE HAVE SUFFERED A DECREASE IN ATTENDANCES AND SPONSORSHIPS AND THIS HAS HAD A LARGE IMPACT ON OUR INCOME STREAM, THEREFORE I HAVE INFORMED OUR MANAGER THIS WEEK THAT WE WILL HAVE TO CUT HIS PLAYING BUDGET, AND UNLESS SOME SERIOUS SPONSORSHIP CAN BE FOUND THIS WILL BE UNTILL THE END OF THE SEASON, LET ME MAKE IT CLEAR THAT I DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BLAME ANY PLAYER WHO DECIDES TO LEAVE WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE A LIVING AND WE LIVE TO THE MEANS AT OUR DISPOSAL, I WISH ALL THOSE PLAYERS THE VERY BEST AND I AM SORRY THAT IT HAS COME TO THIS.
TOMMY LAWSON COULD EASILY HAVE WALKED AWAY, BUT BEING THE MAN HE IS HE HAS DECIDED TO SUPPORT THE CLUB AND SEE THINGS THROUGH, BELIEVE ME HE HAS A DAUNTING TASK AHEAD OF HIM, BUT TOMMY BEING TOMMY HE HAS ALREADY PUT PLANS INTO MOTION TO KEEP US MOVING FORWARD, AND HE HAS ALL OUR GRATITUDE.
MYSELF AND THE BOARD WILL DO ALL WE CAN TO REVERSE OUR FORTUNES I WILL BE LOOKING FOR THE LOCAL BUSINESS COMMUNITY TO HELP IF THEY CAN, IT’S HARD TIMES FOR ALL OF US AT PRESENT.
I KNOW THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE SEEN IT THROUGH SO FAR WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO, I THANK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, AND IF ANYONE HAS ANY IDEAS OR CAN ASSIST IN ANY WAY PLEASE COME AND TALK TO US.

REGARDS
PAUL GRIFFITHS (CHAIRMAN)

[Kev Panther]

A great response from the supporters. Very much appreciated
A great gesture to donate money to Tommy, although we have to be careful of what we donate, the money could be construed as money for paying players and would not go through the books, that is a legal no-no. If anyone wants to make payments to the club, please see me and I PROMISE THAT THE MONEY WILL GO TO THE PLAYERS FUND. it will however go through the books and not land us in any trouble.
To everyone Thanks for the offer.

Someone mentioned about the Directors putting their hands in the pockets, I can assure you those who can afford to, "DO SO" Im not blowing my own trumpet but at the weekend I forked out £200 for bills, I also purchased paint at the beginning of the season and even pay for my own programme and I do them !!!
I know other Directors have paid for stuff out of their own pockets, just because you don't see doesn't mean we don't do and can anyone tell me which other clubs Directors do you see, On the Gate, Selling Programmes, Sorting out the Kit, Cleaning the bins, Cleaning the toilets, Hosting the Away Directors. Tending to the ground
No one !!!! when we go away the opposition Directors are all in the club house it is left to volunteers to do the jobs around the ground. Our Directors all do the work
If anyone wants to volunteer for any of the jobs then please feel free, so we directors can all sit in the Directors Box eating Prawn sandwiches and drinking Prosecco. We wish

Our problems lie in the apathy in the town in general, we have a loyal band of sponsors who support us religiously but trying to get new ventures is proving difficult, if anyone out there wants a job of recruiting New sponsors then please see Paul or Norman at the game.

Our problems lie not with the playing budget as such, but the travel costs, which run at about £1500 per month. We have had just 2 home games since the beginning of November and had 5 away games, we have had no income stream and the players have still got to be paid.
Also the attendances have not been as good as last season, there is a general down turn in Non League attendances across the board and you will no doubt see other clubs cut the cloth accordingly.
Our game against Warrington should have attracted somewhere in the region of 350 plus, again malaise in the town, saw that reach just 230 (Highest of the season).
Our support is loyal and that we appreciate but we can still do more and donate. We had a Players sponsorship at the beginning of the season, offering sponsorship of just £20, most clubs charge £75-£100 and get all their players taken, we cannot even fill ours with just the £20. Remember it all helps.

There is also the new lottery that has been run by Malcolm and I know a number of you have participated but its disappointing the amount that do contribute. we are offering decent prizes but it falls on deaf ears.
Same goes for the half time raffle Thanks to Teresa - I know its only a quid but as the say "they all add up"
On Saturday we raised £130 of which I know Rushall's Directors and staff purchased at least £30 and our own committee around £20. Thats £80 collected from an attendance of 200. Doesnt take a genius, You know take a look at yourself...can you afford a £1.
I have ben pushing the Easyfundraising for those of you who order stuff online, doesnt cost you anything but yet we cant get anyone interested.
Match Day programmes, I work had to try and give our supporters something to read, something old, something new, something a bit different, we have reverted to just a plain B/W issues as we are losing money on them.
I know thats only small fry for what we are looking for but we are not asking you to dig as deep as you can, all the little bits add up

Non of the Directors are happy with this outcome and will be doing everything we can to get us back to where we belong but if the Town folk dont want to know than its up to us as supporters to help ourselves

Thank You

Kev Panther

[wilko]

Well said Kev.Im surprised that people don't sign up for Easyfundraising,it's easy to,doesn't cost you a penny and as long as you remember to login through that site before shopping online then a percentage of what you spend goes directly to Skems account.Im sure most of us nowadays do buy stuff online or have family members who do,please use it!