Boreham Wood chairman left hurt by staff members

Boreham Wood chairman Danny Hunter has stated that he was left hurt by a few of his staff members who tried to take him to the cleaners.

Hunter was speaking as part of an update to supporters, in which he was questioned about the team’s prospects next season in the National League.

One of the stand out points he made was that the club will ‘almost certainly have to be on life support for the foreseeable future’.

CHAIRMAN STATEMENT

“After going through what can only be described as the most difficult and painful of times over the last 15-months, Boreham Wood FC can announce to our supporters that next season’s season tickets and our new Black Card Membership Scheme will go on sale this Wednesday 28th April as the Club finally looks forward and makes plans to navigate a way out of this COVID-19 pandemic nightmare.

“The Club though is firstly excited to repay all those loyal supporters of ours who made the decision to remain season ticket holders throughout this campaign with a frozen/fixed “loyalty” price for next season’s renewals.

“On top of the frozen/fixed “loyalty” renewal price, we’ll also offer a new season ticket price band for any new or returning season ticket holders, with the new “tenner-a-game” season ticket for both Adults and OAPs. We’ve also created a new “under-a-fiver-a-game” season ticket for our under 16’s and got another frozen/freebie for our existing under 12 season ticket holders and new initiatives for the newbies who might wish to join us in that age group.

“Lastly, the Club is excited to roll out a new Black Card Membership Scheme for the more casual supporters or those who may have to work at weekends, which also comes complete with club shop discounts, plus other facility discounts and will give you access to the home fans season ticket/members only bar on a match day or night within our newly renovated Gallery Suite…”

Wood Chairman Danny Hunter, was open and honest when fans liaison/spokesman and Club Shop Manager Grant Morris asked him about the playing squad and what he felt the Club’s prospects are on the pitch for next season, Hunter said: “That’s a difficult question but I need to be very honest with our supporters from the outset, especially the newer ones; please, please don’t buy a season ticket if you’re expecting me to provide either a top ten budget or if you are expecting a play-off challenge or more next season…

“Trust me, how I’ve managed to get us through this season and to this point has been testament to my remaining staff and the sacrifices that they’ve all made. In truth, I’ve been hurt by one or two staff who’ve perhaps took me to the cleaners, but on the pitch we’ve simply had a dressing room that unfortunately slightly underachieved in the big moments, and as a realist thats just football but it’s the big moments that do separate the mediocre sides from the top teams, because top teams turn key moments into magic moments and unfortunately we’ve not done that in the majority of games this season…

“All I’m saying to people, is if you’re really a Premier League fan who does love your footy on the TV, if you like the sound of your voice on social media and if you want instant success keep supporting the big six, stay watching Sky, stay tweeting about them and just follow us on social media as you won’t be missed or put even more simply, we as a Club are going to be scrapping for our lives from day one and so we need positivity and we need everyone behind us understanding that our present position is precarious. Which means everyone cannot be under any illusions or given any false promises about where myself and the Club finds itself as we come out of this pandemic, but as I promised I would, I have kept our Club, our players and my staff safe.

“We’ll almost certainly have to be on life support for the foreseeable future and that’s only if everyone still decides to back us. We will then have to balance off any new players coming in with the present wage bill, which will need to be reduced, but we must get new talent in and more energy into our ranks… In the meantime, I’ll be trying to pull a few rabbits out of my business hat but in this environment that is going to be a very difficult task between now and the season’s start in August…

“After the year we’ve all had I’m not going to sugar coat things for the few, I’m simply going to be the realist I am because I know I’ll have to be ready to fight tooth and nail for our Community, for our Town and for our Football Club’s recovery.

“I’ve run out of patience with a few who seem to know the price of everything and the value of nothing and if they go back to whence they came we won’t miss them. In truth I know I have to put in more money personally, which will hopefully not only guarantee our survival next season but give us at least a shout of competing with the big boys and over achieving once again, but I won’t lie to any of my old school support base about the difficult times that could well lie ahead of us…

“As such I’m more than happy to go into next season with perhaps a few less home fans but with a more committed core of old school supporters who know me, who I know will be realistic with me and who are ready to answer my call to arms, as every effort will be needed by the Club, by the fans, by my staff, by our Manager, by our playing squad but also by our community, if we are to remain a National League Club come this time next season…” Hunter concluded.

See more including the season ticket renewal prices HERE.

Fans reacted after seeing the statement which the Boreham Wood chairman says he was left hurt by staff members and that the club will ‘be on life support’…

Alex Morrow: New price structures are fair and really well put together. The loyal 400-500 will be there. But I’m not sure it’s a great idea to tell all casual fans we won’t be making a play off challenge so don’t bother buying a season ticket, and also don’t dare say anything on social media because we don’t want you opening your mouths. Reads a bit like he’s stuck two fingers up at the very people the club needs to attract.

Paddy Goodwin: Tbf I’m getting mixed feelings from this it’s like he wants fans to turnout and at the same time he doesn’t… He definitely could’ve worded things a lot better. And if anyone tries to come at me for saying this I’ll have u know I attended every bwood home game in the 18/19 season coming from. Barnet on tuesday nights and back knowing we’ll get smacked 🤣🤣

Barri Coen: I really don’t get the point of him wording it like that. Why risk alienating people uneccesarily. He could have made a strong point about it being a tough season ahead and not to expect too much, without actually pissing off people who might be considering a season ticket. I get the feeling that anyone who couldn’t afford a ST this year are considered as these “casual fans” as well as 2nd teamers

Lee Boorman: Agree that it could have been worded better but can also mostly see where he’s coming from. Yeah we’ve probably underachieved this season but we are punching above our weight for a club of our size. Still think they’ll be a large number of 16/17 year olds missing from the stands next season

Josh Gafson: I understand where the chairman is coming from, but surely at a time of ‘life support’ ticket sales are more important than loyalty? Clearly Danny is directing those words at people like myself who split their allegiance between a Premier league team and Boreham wood, but from what I read, I don’t think I am welcome back at meadow Park which makes me really sad.

Chris Gardner: I think what the chairman is saying , in these days of social media personal comments about staff or players are detrimental to a happy and successful club . Encouragement is a far better way for success than negativity. We have got to remember we are the smallest club with possibly the smallest budget, and probably the biggest aspirations in the league, we have been extremely lucky and privileged to have come this far , who would av thought we would have played at Wembley Stadium, I think we need to have faith in the formula that has got us this far, we r the Wood

Colin Cooper: Sounds like the easily offended are looking for a excuse not to buy a season ticket, I’m sure the proper fans will be there.

Colin Trotman: Seems to be a lot of hot air expended regarding the ‘outrageous’ price of a season ticket, particularly from those who requested a refund. All I’d say is, view the other National League team’s season ticket prices – £210 is pretty good at this level. Perhaps those younger people (who are very welcome regardless of their opinions) might consider not renewing their mobile phones this year, for instance, in order to compensate for the extra cost. I’m sure none them will have to commit to a re-mortgage in order to find the extra, in the way a certain party has had to re-mortgage for other reasons…