Ebbsfleet United

Concerns raised at financial footing of Ebbsfleet United
Greg Miles

The Fleet Trust has provided a cash injection to Ebbsfleet United as concerns are raised about the financial state of the club. The supporters run trust released a statement saying they were concerned about the financial position of the Blue Square Premier club and about the viability and sustainability of the football club under its present ownership.

Following its statement they have given the club £9,000 for players’ wages. The full statement from the board is as follows:

“There was considerable concern expressed regarding the future of Ebbsfleet United Football Club given recent information regarding the financial position of the club and postings about matters of finance on the MYFC forum. The Fleet Trust Board is concerned about the viability and sustainability of the football club under its present ownership.

“The Fleet Trust is now calling upon all fans of the football club to consider how they may be able to help at this time. In addition, the Trust Board would ask the MYFC members to consider their continued ownership of the football club and explore any opportunities to improve the current situation.

“It has become apparent of late that relationships between the football club and MYFC members have reached a stage where effective communication for the good of the football club has become untenable. The tone of some of the postings, in particular about club staff, have been extremely personal and without foundation.

“The Fleet Trust Board fully support the staff at the football club in the work that they do under extremely difficult circumstances.

“The Fleet Trust exists to support our football club, and to provide a forum through which fans can also show their commitment. To this end, the Fleet Trust Board have agreed to transfer the sum of £2,000 to provide stock in the club shop and £9,000 of fans contributions through the Trust towards the players wages.

“Given the current situation the Fleet Trust Board would be willing to talk to any interested parties in improving the current situation with a view to ensuring the long term survival of the football club, this includes any potential investors.

“It is our understanding that a statement will be forthcoming from the club regarding its long term viability and financial position, in due course.

“In the meantime, the Trust Board calls upon all Trust members to attend the AGM on Thursday 29 November at 7.30pm in the social club at the ground where there will be the opportunity to discuss these matters. In addition, fans of the football club are urged to join the Fleet Trust before the 29th, or at the AGM, although joining at this time you will not have voting rights at this meeting. Membership starts at £10.

“If ever there was a time that your football club needed you, it is now.”

MyFC ownership has run its course, say fans’ group
Greg Miles

SERIOUS questions have been raised about Ebbsfleet United’s future under the ownership of MyFootball Club. It’s feared the MyFootball Club company, an internet venture made up of members paying annual subscriptions, will not be able to support the club in the long-term as its lack of members leaves Ebbsfleet’s bank balance in a precarious position.

The lack of members is not a new problem for the group, which owns 75 per cent of the club, but it has now got to the stage where fans’ group, The Fleet Trust, feels a decision needs to be made on the club’s long term future.

Vice chair of the trust Emily Connolly feels while the fans-owned venture may have worked when backed by more than 30,000 members when it took over in 2008, it can no longer be sustained with a current membership of 1,200 or so.

“Last season we muddled along and collected money in buckets at games to get ourselves through the season,” she said. “MyFC has put a lot of money in, but I guess it’s run its course. Enough is enough, we can’t keep living hand to mouth. It’s not about the short-term, but about the long-term. The question we are asking is: are they prepared to part with their shares? Do we find someone to take on their shares? Or do we form a better supporters’ trust to run it? Maybe we can work with them to help find investment. It’s never been our aim to run the football club, but if there’s support for that then we need to look at it.”

The trust is constantly fundraising to support the club, and last week handed over £9,000 to go towards players’ wages, while also putting another £2,000 towards stock for the club shop. Ebbsfleet chairman Jessica McQueen feels a decision needs to be made. “It’s no secret that the number of members are dwindling,” she said. “It’s come to a stage now where they (MyFC) have to make a decision about the long term future. We don’t want to stay where we are, we want to grow and become a full-time club. We want to give our manager Liam (Daish) every opportunity to do that. We cannot do that, with all due respect, if we are having to keep running to just stand still. MyFC had 35,000 members when they took over, and now have something like 1,200. You don’t have to be a mathematician to understand the money is not forthcoming.”

Chairman of MyFC Keith Handley said they were willing to work with anybody who is interested in offering financial support.

“I don’t know if there is anybody out there who wants to get involved,” he said. “We are happy to work with anybody. If they can bring somebody forward that has got a detailed business plan who could do a good job as owners, members would happily read it. We are reasonable people.”

He was keen to stress there is a natural lull in income at certain points in the season. In February they expect a cash injection when 700 members are set for renewal.

The Fleet Trust is holding its AGM on Thursday this week and the group has urged members to attend to discuss the situation.

For more information about the trust visit www.fleet-trust.co.uk and for MyFC visit www.myfootballclub.co.uk.

http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1161-april-2013/9691-myfootballclub-give-up-control-of-ebbsfleet