In attendance from the club: Nigel Dickinson, Andy Hall, Andrew Jenkins, Steven Pattison, Norman Steel.
Nigel Dickinson's Supporters Liaison Officer role is part of a UEFA rollout scheme.
Blueyonder is still at the discussion stage, £10k has been spent on it so far, they like the way Deepdale has been modernised. Still having meetings with the council but won’t be spending any more money on it unless the whole project is being funded by someone else. Council were initially very supportive but then went cold after the city centre survey.
Budgetary figures have to put in twice a year to the Football League. This season the crowd attendance budget was 5,200 with 65% of club turnover to go on player wages under the new rules. Next year it’s down to 60% and the attendance budget is between 4,200 and 4,500. Very close to the 65% mark by the end of this season, became touch and go on new signings.
Club has a very good relationship with Fred Story, he doesn’t ask for his money back and he has told them he has no interest in building on Brunton Park if we were to move grounds.
One person mentioned maybe having a cheaper season ticket for people who live away to cover their travelling expenses.
The club made £55,000 through website hits this season. Complaint made about layout of website. Explained that all clubs are the same and the provider needs to up their game.
They employed a marketing consultant to look at things at the club, they were critical in places. The Football League though say the club’s marketing is good. The club will be doing a marketing strategy for next season with events throughout the year.
Schools get half-price tickets for next game after their free one. Even with free tickets and Football in the Community stuff in the morning the take-up from schools is very poor. All schools are sent a letter offering a free ticket day at the start of the season.
Players in their contracts are supposed to be doing 2hours per week in the local community, which is something they haven’t been doing, Andy Hall is taking this over to ensure it is done.
Problems with stock in the club shop, ordered too many of some things and too little of others. Lessons have been learned in that department.
Fila will be doing the kits again next year. Stobart have renewed for another year at a reduced cost for shirt sponsorship, but it could be their last year. Stobart pay a very generous amount for shirt sponsorship compared to other clubs in the division. New home and away kits next season, that is general throughout the industry now. New shirts won’t be available at the end of this season.
The age old bug bear of catering and food and drink quality. Don’t think we are going to get anywhere on the food side of things, Pioneer pay the club £20k for the contract and put £10k in on advertising boards around the ground. Price and quality of beer raised again, prices are set by the Brewery and the club is always on at them to reduce them. They’ve looked at the costings of doing things in-house but the fingers don’t add up. Catering contract is put out to tender every two years and only Azure really bother tendering. Suggestion made that service could be quicker in bars and pie huts by better pricing and better pre-planning.
Complaints about not being able to move between the Warwick and Paddock, not a club led idea but a Health and Safety and safety licence one. Club will be looking to address this in the summer. Warwick bar closed as it only took £70 on matchdays.
Expecting a 6,000 crowd tomorrow, with around 1,000 from Preston. Club has a better relationship with the Police now, club is only charged for policing in the ground and around the immediate vicinity of the ground.
One fan pointed out that away travel information is hard to find. Norman Steel addressed this with the individual concerned. Travel to grounds from afar discussed, pointed out that the West Cumbria fan bus service was pulled two years ago because of lack of numbers.
Complaint made about cleanliness of female toilets and that they take a long time to flush, the latter one is down to the plumbing around the ground being so old. Cleanliness will be addressed.
Social media abuse, facebook, messageboard twitter. All agreed it was too much at times, majority seemed to agree that it was a national problem throughout everything and not just endemic to football clubs.
Dean Henderson was sold to Manchester United for £35,000, with more money to come if he makes it into the professional ranks at Old Trafford.
Think that’s about it, was a productive meeting attended by about 15 fans that lasted around two hours and the next one will be in eight weeks time. Andy Hall will also be putting an article together next week about this evening's meeting which will go on the official website.