Notes of Fans Forum held on Thursday 19th June 2025

In attendance

Lawrence Levy (LL) Tony Gauthier ( TG) Harry Wheeler (HW) Ian Culverhouse (IC) Paul Bastock (PB), Ian Rogers ( IR)

Ian Rogers Supporters Trust chair opened the forum and thanked the club officials for their attendance

LL said this was a long awaited forum, alluded to key issue being ticket prices and briefly explained TG role at the club.

He said relegation last season was a blip in the journey the owners had started on in 2011 , he went on to say that the previous season had incurred a loss of £200k which he and John McGowan had funded and said there was no profiteering by the owners.

The cost of living had affected everyone including the football club for example the cost of utilities , the club has 3 sources of income , admission charges, merchandise and sponsorship.

He made a comparison of Clarence Park against Hemel Hempstead Town FC who owned a larger site and were able to generate non match day revenue. He cited the recent Brewfest which was cancelled .

LL then went on to say that the club officials had agreed on the ticket pricing in order to have a competitive playing budget and that IR had been in attendance and voiced the views of the Supporters Trust that pricing should reflect the league we are in , he mentioned the loss of National league sponsorship .

LL explained the longer term need to have a sustainable club and that they were engaged in dialogue with the council regarding a new ground. He said the future is bright for the club but is very tough right now for supporters and some decisions were going to be unpopular but the owners feel this right for the longer term and that they will still need to provide funding to the club.

Question from the floor, We understand the need to fund the club but the pricing is wrong, it should be £16 on the gate and if you want to maximise revenue a £315 season ticket will not sell at that price the average price in this league is £190 and suggested £250 was more acceptable , also the pricing for a 12 year old at £60 is wrong.

LL said if we reduce prices the playing budget will be the same as Lewes for example and we will not keep our best players. He added we will live by what we have done and prices will not change and asked for supporters ideas on attracting more revenue.

A suggestion was put forward that the club should look for more investors , LL said this was the case and spoke about only having a 5 year licence on the ground and the restrictions placed on Clarence Park adding what is there for an investor to invest in?, Mention was made of the club having to maintain the ground unlike the cricket club who the council undertook work for.

LL asked what fans thought about a new ground and spoke about sustainability.

A project in 2019/20 had looked at using Westminster Lodge to redeveloping as a ground but it would have an athletics track and cited Chelmsford City ground, adding the council do not want s there anyway.

He went onto say another fans forum would be set up specifically to look at the new ground issues and fans engagement in it.

He refreed back to the playing budget saying it is not a step 3 budget.

LL confirmed the new ground would be owned by SACFC and there will be a covenant on the ground to protect it which is part of the planning condition .

A question was asked as to what modelling was done to set pricing , LL said none was used.

The club has sold 24 season tickets to date compared to 48 like for like this time last year

A supporter commented that this policy of pricing will lose community engagement and integrity.

There was a general dissent amongst all supporters prsent and a number said they will not attend home matches .

A question was asked about where the money from the in ground franchising go to? LL said was 20% of their income .

A further point was asked “ At what point with 24 season tickets sold does your plan fall apart?

Adding is there a plan B?

LL threw out a challenge to supporters to come up with ideas to raise funds adding the club are investing in the playing budget.

A comment was made about the clubs communication to fans, saying it was patronising had the wrong tone , better communication would have softened to the blow of price increases

LL said there had been problems with social media , a further comment said the post match interviews were too soft on the manager and not challenging.

LL was asked if he accepted the last time there had been an increase to £18 it had lost 26% in those attending?

LL said apart from the FA cup season the owners had had to put funding in to keep the club running.

A volunteer said it was they who would face the vitriol of supporters on the gate and that they received no recognition for their efforts no pat on the back , LL said he will address this.

A question was asked as to what the price is on the gate is it £16.50 or £18 not clear on the web site , LL again referred to ongoing media problems.

Mention was made of fans podcast which had a large following where pricing and communication were topics a strong view was made that the club had gor the pricing all wrong

LL said he will take the views expressed at this forum away but he had to deal with the facts financially in front of him.

A comment was made that if the club reflected on what had been said tonight they would see sales increase.

LL rounded of the session by explaining the high cost of providing training facilities at local schools for the team.