Linnets apply for full £15K survival grant
Club hope to protect funds set aside for ground improvement
RUNCORN Linnets have applied for a £15,000 grant from the Football Foundation to help them through the winter and preserve funds set aside for ground improvements.
In his latest update for supporters, chairman Dave Jones said the club had contingency plans in place if the bid was unsuccessful.
But it’s hoped Linnets can secure the survival package to help carry the club through the Covid-19 pandemic and invest their own funds into improving the club’s faciliites when football finally returns.
“We have submitted an application to the Football Foundation for a Winter Survival Fund grant,” said Jones. “We have applied for the full £15,000 available to clubs at our level in order to protect our reserves, which are earmarked for ground improvements and the Hybrid Pitch project which is not yet finalised. We hope to hear within the next few weeks if we have been successful. We have a contingency plan for if we are unsuccessful, but we are hopeful of receiving the full grant.
“One item we included in the grant application was essential grounds maintenance to make the compound behind the Soccer Millions Stand safe and secure. Currently it is not secure, and anyone can enter during a game or when the pitch is being hired out and there are too many things lying around which could cause serious injury.
“Paul Tandy, with the help of Alan Jones and Spenny has drawn up plans to finally secure the entire compound and make it safe. These works will be completed before the end of March.”
At a board meeting on Monday 8th February the roles and responsibilities were finalised and approved with Paul Tandy appointed as Head of Major Projects – he will manage a team including Alan Jones to deliver improvements to the Millbank Linnets Stadium.
Jones added: “Grace Mantova has been appointed as Welfare Officer. I felt this was an important role that we needed to cover, and Grace has all the skills required.
“Alan Jones will be Retail Manager and will manage the new club shop. This is an area we have been badly lacking in in recent years and is something we must improve.
“Jack Walsh will be taking on the role of Programme Editor as Ellis Clarke is stepping down due to work commitments and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Ellis for all his hard work over the years.
“An extensive list of roles and responsibilities will be published on the club website and you will see from that list just how many people give up their time for free to help us run your football club. I wanted to take this opportunity to say a heartfelt thank you to each of them. The success of the club is as much down to you as it is to the players and management team.
“We are always looking for more volunteers and there will always be jobs that need doing. If you are interested in volunteering, then please contact the club through our website at www.runcornlinnetsfc.co.uk. Any help is always greatly appreciated.
“At the end of the AGM we usually have an open Q and A session with the manager and the board. Unfortunately, due to this season’s AGM being conducted online we will be unable to do this.
“However, we feel that having an open Q and A session with the manager and the board is important, so we will be hosting a session on Friday 26th February at 7pm. Further details will be published in due course and all fans will be welcome to attend.”
The club is still waiting to hear the outcome of the Northern Premier League survey into the outcome of the season, but Linnets frontman Ryan Brooke is certainly not expecting to lacing up his boots again for competitive football this season.
“Personally, I don’t think we’re going to be starting up again, just simply because the lockdown is not going to be lifted in February, it’s looking more like the middle of April, so you can’t fit four or five months’ football into two months, it’s just not possible,” he said.