Ties that bind now stronger for tough times
MANAGING Southport FC through 12 months of Covid pandemic required a real team effort – and Ian Kyle believes the experience will strengthen the club going forward.
The Sandgrounders received confirmation last week that their National League North campaign had ended, declared null and void for the second season running.
The club was in favour of putting a halt to playing fixtures while the country was in a national lockdown and without testing measures in place for players and clubs staff. Manager Liam Watson had described it as a farce while their appeals at times appeared to fall on deaf ears within the corridors of power at National League HQ. However, director Kyle was proud of how the club stuck together.
“Having to come through such an unprecedented period and really work together has really bonded the board and the immediate team,” he said.
“Going forward you can only really see the positives from that.
“Planning wise it was a nightmare, we didn’t know what finances we were going to have. We were concentrating on getting the stadium ready for fans and then we couldn’t have fans.
“It was a logistical nightmare and a financial nightmare.”
And Kyle also praised the fans for their support of the team.
“From day one, 98% of the fans appreciated that this was a difficult season.
“We thank everyone for their support. We have been completely backed.
“If they disagree with something, we’ve done get in touch with us.
“Anything we can do to help, get in contact, talk to us and we’ll see what we can do.”
Kyle said that those fans wishing to refund season tickets would be able to and that the club would release details on how to go about it soon – but those who decide not to seek a refund would be thanked properly.
“Those who don’t, it will be incredibly appreciated by the club because financially we have had no income whatsoever now for however long it is,” he said. “We will look to thank those people properly; one idea that’s been flagged up is we could have a couple training sessions where we invite those people along to thank them properly, watch training and have a bit of a barbecue at the club with a bit of luck
“For people who do want a refund, it’s difficult financial times and we understand that.”
Kyle explained that the pandemic brought up major issues for the club financially, cutting off major revenue streams completely.
“It’s not just the lack of income from the fans,” he said.
“We spent so much time the twelve, eighteen months before getting the finances sorted and really starting to build the hospitality and events.
“That was hard work and part of the club as well. We lost all that income as well.”
But Kyle insisted that sensible decision making had helped steer the club through the pandemic
“We’ve had 12/15 months of no income whatsoever and to plan the season based on that
We thank everyone for their support. We have been completely backed
Ian Kyle
was difficult. Even when the grants were coming in that covered the wages only and you’ve still got to pay VAT and national insurance; we had to fund that with no income at all.
“It was all about being sensible.”
Planning for next season would be much easier than the last, and that discussions over players were already beginning;
“You would hope it’s going to much easier to get ready for next season.
“Fingers crossed come August we’ll know exactly where we are as regards fans coming in and hospitality and events and we’ll be able to plan much better for next season.”