These are difficult times and the effect of the poor weather this season has now been compounded by the end of the football season due to COVID-19. The early end to the season is disappointing for us all across the Colts community. We would however appreciate it if parents did not cancel their monthly subs and allow the club the time to review our financial position over the summer.
There are a number of reasons for this:
- The subs that parents pay for a full season are split in to 12 equal payments. These payments do not reflect the costs that the Club has to pay in those months. The Club relies on the parental subs paid at the end of the season (from May to August) each year to balance our books back up ready for the next season. For example, winter training facilities are the Club’s single biggest cost and we have already paid for 22 of the 24 weeks that we purchase.
- Most of WBC’s other costs are fixed and therefore our costs do not fall if we don’t play. (League and FA fees, pitch maintenance, insurance, FA training, DBS checks and equipment are all fixed costs and the majority have already been paid).
- With 1300 players, the volunteer administration involved in reconciling monthly subs with parents cancelling a few months’ subs and then re-starting up is considerable.
Our management committee has agreed to review the Club’s financial position at the start of next season. If we feel that the Club has had a significant financial benefit from the early end to the season, it will make a one-off adjustment to parental subs or the annual registration fee. It is not in the Club’s interest as a registered charity to make a large profit.
We would therefore ask you to work with us and leave your subscription payments as they are, although we will always try to help if there are situations of financial hardship. The Club does operate a hardship fund and if any parent needs to cancel their payments due to the current situation then please contact us first using the email address info@westbridgfordcolts in full confidence.
Thank you in advance for your support and understanding on this matter.
Stay safe and take care.
Peter Stansbury
WBC Chairman
on behalf of WBCFC management committee