Msg from directors re finances

[Handsome_Devil]

we're still knackered. - view external link

[jwok]

A long and detailed statement maybe summe up by this para.


"While we are not yet at a crisis position, we are flagging that we require to take action now to ensure the continued financial stability of the club. This action will either mean a substantial increase in resources towards our reserve or a very substantial reduction in our expenditure plansa?? - view external link

[wellowell]

When you look at the response from other clubs fans when in trouble as in rangers and hearts for example the well society take up is very poor. The people who cant afford to join the well society cant do so for financial reasons and that is acceptable as cant be helped but a lot of season ticket holders can afford it and have decided not to. It seems that a club has to be on its knees for fans to dig deep but our directors are trying to make sure that does not happen and if people dont act now it may be too late. For 80% of season ticket holders to not have joined the society seems disappointing to me but every body may have their own reason for not joining but we have a great wee club and i for one would miss it greatly if not their so the players are doing their best on the pitch but why attendances went down again last year is beyond me so would like all the stay away fans to if not joining the society at least go to more games next season. You may not think this but your support is

[dazlhigh]

I have a season and I'm a Well Society member. But I couldn't have done both if the family hadn't clubbed together and paid for the Society, towards which I've just paid my annual A?50.00. I'm over 60 miles south of Motherwell; because of those travel costs even to get to Fir Park, I really have to ask for the 'OAP' concession. I can't do much more, and I'm probably not alone.
All of that said, I think that the point about 'rallying round' is a valid one. Other clubs' fans, with a lot less to cheer about on the pitch than us, have stepped up.
The one I don't really 'get' though - and I have absolutely no doubt that successive club boards have tried all they knew to attract them - is the lack of interest from our bigger local industries over many years. We've got a steelworks on our badge; there's still a steel industry in Motherwell. I'd put up with being in the Tata Stadium if it helped to avoid saying ta-ta to MFC.

[wellowell]

You have done more than enough being a season ticket holder and well society member i just think that some fans are saying they dont need me to join as doing allright without me. Its the same every week with attendances no matter how well we play our crowds are still going down and all those people who came on here asking for rangers to be kicked out and crowds would increase have been blowing cold air as this has certainly not been the case.

[mix106]

I know this is going to go down like a lead balloon but does reality escape football folk. We have endured the worst economic siutation in history and the club are "disappointed" that the Well society has only reached 20% of our regular fan base.

I can offer a couple of reasons

1. If Marks and Spencers said "thanks very much for being a loyal customer but we'd like you to give us a free gratis donation of >A?300" and when asked what they got in return they were told "you'd be part of the Marks and Spencer Society"
2. Most fans just don't buy into the concept of the fan ownership model and when money is tight they will be even less inclined.

If it is such a winner why have so few other clubs launched it. I'm afraid the reality is we do not have the fan base to sustain a club at the level we have been operating and if that means we need to bring expenditure in line with income so be it , if that means part time football so be it , if that means yo yoing between Championship and SPF

[allan73]

What we are looking for is our fans to commit to paying 10 pounds a month for 30 months to join the well society or for those who have already paid their 300 pounds to commit to 20 pounds a month for 30 months. This in itself is a big ask when people's budgets are so tightly stretched. I am a father of two boys have a mortgage to pay along with all the other bills. I refuse to pay for sky tv because I am against the obscene money they give english teams. I support my football team by buying a season ticket and other club merchandise. I am going to up my well society membership by hopefully paying 20 pounds a month. This is all I can manage at the moment. Don't know what else I can do?

[mix106]

What we are looking for is our fans to commit to paying 10 pounds a month for 30 months to join the well society or for those who have already paid their 300 pounds to commit to 20 pounds a month for 30 months. This in itself is a big ask when people's budgets are so tightly stretched. I am a father of two boys have a mortgage to pay along with all the other bills. I refuse to pay for sky tv because I am against the obscene money they give english teams. I support my football team by buying a season ticket and other club merchandise. I am going to up my well society membership by hopefully paying 20 pounds a month. This is all I can manage at the moment. Don't know what else I can do?

You are doing more than enough but why should you put your hand in your pocket and give the club free money because no matter how you dress it up that's what is is. For me I'm afraid between what i pay for a season ticket and following them home and aw

[Davie1972]

I joined the Well Society at the very outset and have paid my additional annual fees on top but have been very disappointed with what I have got for my money... nothing. The only thing I have is that I have helped my club as I live in London and it is pointless buying a season ticket when I can only manage to get to 4 or 5 games a year.

Apart from the initial flurry - the number of well society members have remained fairly static since.

To think that double the number of members would now join up in the next few months is wishful thinking - especially as they could pull the rug from your investment at any point.

I am personally aware of at least one high worth individual who is interested in buying a stake in Motherwell but wants some clout for his money. He doesn't want to be impeded by the red tape of the society in executing his plans for the club.

If the club genuinely wants more Well Society members - they need to relaunch and sell in the benefits - but this is unlikely to ha

[getfitforeurope]

I'm a season ticket holder, not a Well society member. I thought hard about investing, but if I was going to invest A£300, I'd want rights as a shareholder in my own right, however small, rather than as a member of a group with limited influence (similar to employee trustees in a company pension scheme).
If there really are potential major investors who could secure the clubs future, especially if it led to consolidation of the team's on-field achievements, then bring them on.