Transfer fees boost revenue

The annual report of the club has been released ahead of the annual general meeting on June 27th,

The loss for the year was £22,284 compared to £52,282 in 2019. The accumulated loss now stands at £64,148 up from £43,814.

Transfer fees were up from £20,000 to £62,500 without which the loss would have been much worse.

The report notes, ‘It continued to be a challenge for the club to retain our National League status whilst operating on a playing and management budget that remains substantially below the average of our competitors. It is a credit to the structure and operational stability of the club and the manager that it continues to attract players when the financial rewards for them are greater elsewhere.’

The total revenue of the club increased from £331,000 to £359,800.   The playing budget is £205,000.

The club was able to offset this loss in revenue from the suspension of the league with increased revenue from the transfer fees for Colby Bishop (to Accrington Stanley) and Josh March (to Forest Green Rovers) during the season and increased prize money due to a good FA Trophy run.

The club concluded a five year stadium naming deal with Midcounties Cooperative at £20k in the first year.

Jim Scott interview

Brakes chairman Jim Scott does not believe than an arbitrary U-turn away from 'elite' status would fix National League North's Covid quandary - even if it might suit Leamington.

Scott told The Non-League Paper that most of the Brakes regulars would fit in under the capacity restrictions, but it was not a case of one size fits all.   'We have eight ex-Football League clubs, five with gates that sit at around 1,500-2000 per match.  Then you come down to smaller clubs like Brackley Town and Leamington at around 500-600.'

If elite status was removed, a lot of clubs with smaller fan bases would be very happy, but the larger clubs wouldn't be.  'They would have to make up their money through streaming and no one really knows how much can be made from that over a season.  It is another unknown added to the mix.'

'I always felt a return on October 3rd could be in danger with people going back to schools and workplaces.  That's why we held off selling season tickets.'

'Communication with clubs could have been better.  But it is easy to be critical, anyone can throw stones in these times, but things are very difficult for all concerned.'

Holleran 'optimistic and realistic'

Paul Holleran

Leamington are the featured National League North team in today's Non-League Paper.

The new recruits are all discussed,  'Getting the goalkeeper situation sorted was a big thing on my mind,' said Paul Holleran. Holleran turns 50 next month and is approaching 1,000 games in management.

Discussing his recruitment strategy he said, 'We do look at Step 3 players, up-and-coming players, and players who have been released.  They should have the mind set that they can get into, or back into, full-time football.  The best way to perform is in the National League - the rest will look after itself.'

Holleran was described as optimistic and realistic about what Leamington can achieve this season.  'National League North is a really strong league.  It's a bit like the Premier League - you can split it into three sections.  You sort of know where Spennymoor, York, Boston, Brackley and a few others will be.'

'We've been in the bottom third and hovering around it.  The next step is trying to be a team that gets into that next tier.  It's within our capabilities to compete with teams settled and established in the division.  That has to be the aim.'