Northern Premier League club Stalybridge Celtic confirm much needed changes in order to survive as times get tough especially after Covid.
A statement was published onto their website, outlining just how tough it as become, and now the non league community are hoping to help.
Stalybridge currently sit 16th/22 in the Northern Premier League Premier Division with 27 points from 24 games played and are just three points above the drop zone.
Statement from the Board of Directors at Stalybridge Celtic Football Club.
— Stalybridge Celtic (@StalyCelticFC) January 11, 2023
CLUB STATEMENT:
A statement from the Board of Directors at Stalybridge Celtic Football Club.
The general economic climate, resulting in lower than anticipated commercial income and increases in utility bills and other costs has severely affected the club’s cashflow situation.
This has been exacerbated by the loss of income from two consecutive Saturday home games being postponed in December, which has meant that the club has had to seriously look to reduce its operating expenditure. Clearly, the biggest expense the Club has, is the playing budget.
The Board has consequently had to make the extremely difficult decision to reduce the playing budget by approximately 20%, which will result in some players being released from the squad. This decision has not been made lightly, but the ongoing financial stability of the club must be paramount.
The Board would like to thank Manager Chris Willcock for his understanding of this decision and for his continued commitment to Stalybridge Celtic FC.
The Board has, in recent weeks, held several meetings with the officials of the newly re-formed Stalybridge Celtic Supporters Association (SCSA), at which discussions have been held as to how the association can assist the club, both in terms of volunteers helping in match-day operations, but also in helping the club meet some of it’s financial commitments outside of footballing costs.
The club is planning several fundraisers over the next couple of months, and the SCSA will be a huge asset in helping to promote those events, and help bring funds into the club.
Both the Board and the SCSA are committed to work together in the best interests of Stalybridge Celtic FC.
Support from fans this season has been absolutely superb, both at home and away, and we hope this will continue and grow, and that all fans will help continue to get behind OUR club in any way they can.
Everyone will know that Rob Gorski is seeking to sell his shares and find a new majority shareholder. Hopefully that new majority shareholder is able to invest in the club and propel it onwards, as we all want.
Keith Smart, Interim Chairman/Director.
This is what social media users said as the Northern Premier League club confirm much needed changes in order to survive…
@mazgaminguk: This is really sad to see. I’m an Ashton United fan but will drop in a few times this season to support the club. The new investor can’t come soon enough. Hope it all works out
@steblu: To little to late,not knowing the full facts of the current situation, but to be honest the club as been run like they had zero financial issues. Speaking as an X sponsor from 10+ years ago,I gave up on the sponsorship due to a massive lack of interest on the clubs behalf. 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ You only have to look around the pitch and see the lack of advertising boards that is lost revenue. Same with the player sponsorships. 2 friends got fed up with chasing the club trying to give them their cash for the players that they wanted to sponsor. what a sad situation
@PaulRetrogeezer: What can us fans to do help out please… obviously can’t donate the amount of money needed but anything volunteer wise please let us know
@LancsGuiri: Used to watch them when my dad lived in the bridge, always suffered from not having a nice clubhouse like Mossley and Ashton Utd. Any investor needs to know Bower Fold can never be sold and Celtic must remain there, hopefully with a clubhouse that can be used all week
@UTM_Mariners: I missed this one today (yesterday), this is sad to see.
@GuiseleyFans: Awful to see, Hopefully they can pull through and get back into a decent financial situation. Losing 20% of the playing budget is just mental…
@josh168scfc: Not another one..
@nonleaguemanc: Sad news for the club, hopefully things work out 🙏
@rhyshowen: Not another club in the drain, if I could do something I would but unfortunately I’m not in a much better financial position, @TNLUK?
@rogered98295566: It’s a sad news!
@lukeevansboxer: Sad to hear really. another grass roots club suffering in today’s financial climate.
@PaulCon1996: This potentially causes a huge mix-up at the bottom end of the NPL – a 20% reduction in playing budget at Bower Fold going into what is a dogfight of an already tough season. Four unbeaten before announcing this decision too, either galvanises them or kills the momentum totally
@scotti1973: It just goes to show how the weather can effect our non league football clubs. Cancellation of two or three games can seriously have a huge impact.Hope you can come through these challenging times 👏👊
@Love_non_league: Please help 👍 if you’re in the area please go and support 👍👍
@DTP_14: Please support non league when you can!
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