THERE is a huge challenge facing Worcester City and we need everyone to help and fully understand the club’s plight.
We have one season left at St George’s Lane and need to raise funds to build a new ground at Nunnery Way.
It’s going to be difficult but it’s not impossible.
However, we only have a small group of people who are readily willing to help and those numbers need to swell.
Around 850 have turned up to home games consistently this season and every one of them should make it their goal to understand the club’s predicament.
We need investment and might have to look at the structure of the club to encourage that to happen but help doesn’t always have to be financial. Fans might have expertise in other areas such as construction or have commercial and sponsorship experience.
Nobody will be turned away by chairman Anthony Hampson and the board, any help will be welcomed with open arms. As much as there is frustration, it’s the situation we find ourselves in and there is no benefit in dwelling on the past.
Of those 850 people, we will have expertise in lots of areas and we need them to come forward.
I think there are three phases to the situation. First of all we have got the last season at the Lane coming up which will have a lot of sentiment for a lot of people.
I am sure there will be some emotion towards the end of the campaign and I am certain we will see some very big crowds as a result of that.
The second phase will be a period of time away from Worcester when we won’t have our own ground and will have to share.
That is going to bring it’s own challenge of trying to retain as much of our fan-base as we can.
We will have to look at travel arrangements and possible incentive schemes for supporters alongside season tickets but I also think it’s crucially important we maximise our income streams and build a good infrastructure at the club.
The third phase is looking at how we can raise funds to build the new ground, after the infrastructure costs have been taken out of the Careys New Homes money, and look at grants available to us.
While these phases are taking their course, we have also got the big issue running alongside of capital gains tax.
We need to see if it can be delayed so that all of the funds go into the new ground.
In all of this, we are trying to develop a good squad of players on the pitch and that’s a considerable challenge.
But we have done incredibly well this season and there’s no reason why we can’t do well next season too.
We have tried our level best to play entertaining football and it’s good to see the average home gate has increased.
However, there are likely to be some uncertain times ahead for the club and we need everyone behind us.
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