Post by Cantankerous Gas on Nov 17, 2015 15:17:31 GMT
Money can't buy you love ..... or promotion!
www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/OPINION-Forest-Green-s-accounts-support-case/story-28190118-detail/story.html#ixzz3rlJbWHBp
FOR most non-league clubs, an annual loss of almost £3million would represent a disaster, but it's a little easier to swallow when your owner has an estimated fortune of £100million.
This week, Forest Green Rovers – one of Grimsby Town's main rivals for promotion from the National League – posted their accounts for the year ending May 30, 2015.
It showed that the Gloucestershire outfit, bankrolled by Green Energy entrepreneur Dale Vince, made a loss of £2,943,054, which followed losses of £2,429,492 in 2014. That's just over £5.3million in two years.
Of course, as many have pointed out, it's not exactly new for football clubs to spend more than they generate, and anyway, who are we to question the way other clubs handle their business? It's their money, let them get on with it.
Last month, Grimsby Town released its own accounts for the same period, revealing losses of £78,705, with director John Fenty insisting that most club's 'would love' to have the Mariners' balance sheet.
It's only fair to point out that, like Vince, Fenty is a successful – and wealthy – businessman in his own right and both clubs are heavily reliant on the continued support of their respective backers.
You can only imagine what would happen if Vince or Fenty finally decided sojourns to South of France would be more appealing than watching the non-league club they finance be held to a goalless draw on a wet Tuesday night.
Rovers' accounts – and their losses – do put those of Town into some degree of context, but do they also support the case to give Paul Hurst some praise for his continued work as boss?
Last season, according to the clubs' respective accounts, Town had staff costs of £1,490,134 – spread across 332 full-time, part-time and match-day staff – while Rovers' costs were said to be £2,137,962 for its 67 staff in 'all departments'.
Against that backdrop, Hurst's team came within a penalty kick of promotion back to the Football League in the Play-Off Final, while Forest Green crashed out with defeat in the semi-finals to Bristol Rovers – Town's eventual conquerors at Wembley.
Again, according to the accounts, Town spent less on staff costs (1,552,019) in 2013/14 than Rovers (1,837,920), but once again, that variance wasn't reflected on the pitch.Town finished fourth, losing in Play-Off semi-finals to Gateshead, while Forest Green finished down the table in tenth.
This week, Forest Green Rovers – one of Grimsby Town's main rivals for promotion from the National League – posted their accounts for the year ending May 30, 2015.
It showed that the Gloucestershire outfit, bankrolled by Green Energy entrepreneur Dale Vince, made a loss of £2,943,054, which followed losses of £2,429,492 in 2014. That's just over £5.3million in two years.
Of course, as many have pointed out, it's not exactly new for football clubs to spend more than they generate, and anyway, who are we to question the way other clubs handle their business? It's their money, let them get on with it.
Last month, Grimsby Town released its own accounts for the same period, revealing losses of £78,705, with director John Fenty insisting that most club's 'would love' to have the Mariners' balance sheet.
It's only fair to point out that, like Vince, Fenty is a successful – and wealthy – businessman in his own right and both clubs are heavily reliant on the continued support of their respective backers.
You can only imagine what would happen if Vince or Fenty finally decided sojourns to South of France would be more appealing than watching the non-league club they finance be held to a goalless draw on a wet Tuesday night.
Rovers' accounts – and their losses – do put those of Town into some degree of context, but do they also support the case to give Paul Hurst some praise for his continued work as boss?
Last season, according to the clubs' respective accounts, Town had staff costs of £1,490,134 – spread across 332 full-time, part-time and match-day staff – while Rovers' costs were said to be £2,137,962 for its 67 staff in 'all departments'.
Against that backdrop, Hurst's team came within a penalty kick of promotion back to the Football League in the Play-Off Final, while Forest Green crashed out with defeat in the semi-finals to Bristol Rovers – Town's eventual conquerors at Wembley.
Again, according to the accounts, Town spent less on staff costs (1,552,019) in 2013/14 than Rovers (1,837,920), but once again, that variance wasn't reflected on the pitch.Town finished fourth, losing in Play-Off semi-finals to Gateshead, while Forest Green finished down the table in tenth.
