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Mallard, the amount paid to the players and coaching staff is presumably very high - quality don't come cheap - and the chairman assumed that an exciting successful side would bring the fans in. This has worked to some extent as attendances have increased by almost 60% but clearly he needs larger attendances to fund the current project. 10 clubs in the National League function with 1400 fans or less, so, it can be done. I also assume that the academy not starting was quite a blow to finances.
To be fair to SC, there is nothing much in his programme notes that was far away from what an educated guess could get to, although maybe now some on here will finally dispense with the notion that an 800 attendance figure could be anywhere close to break even for a competitive team at Step 2 at the Walks. I personally think something has triggered SC to finally come out and say it in black and white, maybe it was IC's frustration re centre back cover or something else but no one can now claim they are not aware - even if you take SC's actual figures with a pinch of salt the bottom line is that we are currently being bankrolled by someone who has gone on record as saying he can't sustain that level of subsidy (lets call it what it is, not investment) longer term.Mallard's suggestion of a consortium of 'benefactors' is maybe one route although how many people with 'substantial' money to burn would then be happy to throw it on the bonfire when others / a committee are choosing how that money is ultimately spent is perhaps another matter.Fans can and do have a role to play, Stan I can't believe you have never heard of the 12th Man scheme (£5 per win) as it has been discussed on this forum a number of times this season. The Friends have fundraising schemes to suit most pockets / circumstances (pitch funding for those who want a one off, 100 club for those wanting a small regular contribution and the 12th man for those who are happy to 'gamble' a bit and may pay a bit more for a successful side)I think the biggest contribution that fans could now make is to really get behind the GDF, admittedly the Trust seem to have gone very quiet on this which is unfortunate and doesn't help their cause but if they and the Friends could do a joint venture (maybe one joint 'super' Christmas raffle with all funds going to the GDF) and other smaller fund raisers adding into the pot (another quiz maybe?) that would start to address the most immediate financial cause of concern (the ground improvements).Commercial activities are always seen by some as a solution to whatever the problem is but the truth is they take time and effort (with maybe minimal rewards in the short term) and the club itself under various owners has not been prepared to meet the business community part way - always looking for what cash they can milk rather than what relationships can be nurtured imo. The idea of a commercial manager is probably valid but I think they would be hard pushed to 'break even' in the short term and the economic climate in West Norfolk so not really sure where the money to set up the sort of infrastructure required is going to come from Finally can we also not look at the Academy as another 'cash cow' - that view is exactly why the last incarnation failed - this is lads academic future we are talking about and that isn't something that should be first and foremost done for a quick buck - the Dereham scheme has long term roots and is benefitting both Dereham FC AND the academic institution that it is linked to.
I can't ever recall the twelfth man scheme whatever it is being mentioned on here. As only 12 people have signed up it doesn't appear well publicised, I would suggest Tony, which was my point really.