CASH LOSSES

A SIGNIFICANT INCOME DROP AS CLUB LOSES € 134,000 DURING 2015’ S ‘ DARK’ SEASON

ONE thing that was repeated many times at Tuesday’s AGM was without the € 78,000 donated by fans towards the end of last season, Sligo Rovers would be in the First Division. The club had a cash loss of € 134,000 in 2015 and had the Rally around Rovers not been set up, the € 200,000 or so deficit would have sent the club skydiving into lower tier football.

The 2015 income saw a slide of € 426,777 on the previous year, taking into account the huge chunk missing from not having European action.

Outgoing treasurer Gary Loughlin said: “The club’s income last year was € 1,048,066, that was right back at the 2008 level. Comparing that to the good years when we won the League in 2012 the income was € 1,519,853. Our expenses were € 20,000 above budget as we had to buy an extra player at the end of last season. We had a cash loss of € 134,000 and without Rally around Rovers, that loss would have been in the region of € 200,000 and we wouldn’t have been able to pay wages. That means we now would be in the First Division,” Gary added.

One of the major factors in the high losses during 2015 was the significant drop in gate receipts as the season progressed. “The income we received from gates was € 158,000 for 2015 - this was a drop of 48% on 2014’ s figures, which were € 303,000.” When Rovers won the League in 2012 naturally there were more attendances in The Showgrounds, however the significant fall over a three- year period has been enormous for the League of Ireland club. The treasurer explained how League gates during 2012 accumulated € 353,600 for the club. In 2015, that figure stood at an abysmal € 127,955. “The average gate was under 1,700, when you take into account Cork and Dundalk having over 3,000 it shows the difference. We need a minimum of 2,000 on gates as we need to give the manager a budget so he can buy players.”

Another factor was the drop in season tickets - from € 139,000 in 2014 to € 96,711 last year. With 2014’ s income being boosted by appearances in Europe, which was a welcome € 480,000, the story twelve months later was very different.

Gary added: “2014 was a very good year for the club, there was a lot more income available which was put into the excellent Astro pitch we now have.”

Players’ salaries were at € 650,000 in 2014, € 770,000 for 2013, while last year they amounted to € 538,000. The only spend on infrastructure during the cash- strapped 2015 season was on the dressing rooms and dug out.

On a positive note, the club is in a situation where it doesn’t have any long- term debt, bar a bank loan for the Astro pitch, which has three years left to pay.

Gary continued: “Speaking in terms of our budget for 2016, we have a budgeted income which is down ten percent, looking at gate receipts, season tickets, lotto, € 950,000 is our budgeted income. Having no European competition leaves a big hole. We are planning to reduce our creditors too, that’s on average € 70- 75,000 each year and the aim is to bring it down to € 40- 45,000. Players wages are also down 30%,” he said. The club’s budget has been approved by the FAI. Gary stressed the need for more attendances this season. “The first few games are vital and we need to maintain on average 2,000. We have to have the income to support Dave Robertson.

“We rely heavily on supporters and in order to keep turnover at one million, the rest of the money came from fundraising. We had responses from Australia, America, all over the world, as people who may not have been in The Showgrounds in twenty years put their hands in their pockets. It was fantastic. The support has been superb for the Astro turf, lotto, 500 Club. It’s important that we remain positive and talk the club up, it’s still one of the finest around,” Gary said.

Club secretary Brendan Lacken said the fundraising committee behind the Rally around Rovers needed to be highly praised. “We saw how unique and loyal our supporters are at home and abroad. I want to thank them for being the shining light during a dark season.

“At the end of season, our search for a new manager began and Dave Robertson was the chosen one. We are now in a rebuilding phase, it’s very impressive to see the planning and attention to detail Dave is putting into this. For fans, it’s important to be patient.

“I also want to acknowledge the enormous work of both Gavin Dykes and Ciaran Kelly, who left our coaching staff recently. Our U17s competed in the League for the first time, while our U19s reached the quarter finals of the League. We’ve a number of players on international squads. Let’s be optimistic - together we can get this club back,” Brendan added.