WE are pleased to be able to report to fans that since our last statement on November 25, some very positive changes have been brought about within the club.

As a result, our immediate concerns over finances have been addressed and we are very much more comfortable with the club’s fortunes going forward.

A few weeks ago, local businessman and loyal Terras’ fan, Simon Etherington, stepped forward and offered to take on the management of the club’s finances.

Since then, he has worked tirelessly to bring things under control and set up management account systems.

Alongside that work, he has also secured a very significant injection of funds, made up of investment and donations from WFC directors, some local businesses and also from the Weymouth FC Supporters Association.

As a result, the club has been able to meet its liabilities and now has a firm base to work from.

Furthermore Simon, on behalf of the WFC board, has been able to liaise with the club’s solicitors and reach agreement on meeting the legal costs to date.

The WFC board has been off-ered advice on the current monthly fixed liabilities and the requirement for strict budgeting from here on.

On behalf of supporters, we take the opportunity to thank Simon Etherington, and the small team of competent people who are assisting him, for the work they have done recently and their continued commitment.

Equally encouraging is a recent increase in commercial activity at the club.

Local businesses have taken up match-day sponsorship for the home fixtures over the Christmas period and the club’s commercial department is negotiating further deals.

Commercial income is an important part of the club’s annual turnover and we know that fresh impetus is to be placed upon attracting the support of local businesses and the community.

Given what has been achieved in the past three weeks, we feel that there is now a very real opportunity for the club to move forward under the close guidance of the right people.

We’re also hopeful that the directors will work to bring effective cohesion and management to the boardroom structure.

As such, we feel that, at this time, there is no longer the need for WFCSA to instigate an EGM of shareholders, as was our previous intention.

There remain issues that we feel are important to address however, there is the opportunity for those to be done in good time and in a more pragmatic manner.

We would like to add that all of the WFCSA board members heard the news of Brendon King and Matt Groves’ departures with a heavy heart, as did the vast majority of fans.

We must thank Brendon and Matt for their commitment to WFC and we wish them all the very best for the future.

Everybody at WFC is now looking forward to the forthcoming home matches over the Christmas period.

We begin this coming Saturday, with the visit of Bedford Town followed by what we all hope will be a bumper Boxing Day crowd for the game against Poole Town.

Last week we were able to donate £1,500 to WFC from the ongoing profits of the various fundraising activities that we run.

We’ve also been able to advise the club that we have money available from our new ‘Player Fund’ that can be used to help with the playing budget as and when required.

Our final thanks are to all of the fans who have helped us raise money this year by supporting the things that we do.

We operate a number of fund-raising schemes such as the Claret & Blue Lottery, The Player Fund, Player Kit Sponsorship, The Pitch Sponsorship Fund and, of course, the club shop.

More information on all of these can be gained from the club website, by emailing us direct, or by coming to see us in the club shop on match-days.

Early in 2014, we will be announcing plans for the end of season presentation evening, which, after the success of recent years, will be even bigger and better this time around.

In the meantime, we’d like to wish everybody a merry Christ-mas and we look forward to seeing great support for the Terras over the festive fixtures.

You can email the WFCSA at contact@uptheterras.co.uk