Terras chairman hits out at bankruptcy rumours
9:59am Wednesday 8th October 2008
Comments (19)WEYMOUTH Football Club chairman Malcolm Curtis today hit out at fresh rumours that the club is struggling to pay staff wages and is close to bankruptcy.
He has also refuted suggestion that he has held talks with former AFC Bournemouth director Ernie Battey about possible investment or a take-over.
Mr Curtis said: "All this about not paying people's wages is complete and utter rubbish but the club is under pressure at the moment just like any other business is in the current economic climate.
"Our numbers are down in terms of income and we are struggling with our budgets but we are doing everything we can to cover those losses. It's not going to implode tomorrow or the next day but we are suffering a bit of pain.
"As for Ernie Battey, I have known him for ages.
"He has not been involved at Bournemouth since the new consortium took over and he now comes to our games as my guest.
"That is where that rumour has come from, it is just a case of people putting two and two together."
However, Mr Curtis has received offers for the club since he took over.
He added: "I have nothing to hide. Since I have had the club I have had two offers for it which I did not think were in the best interests of the club."
The club is continuing to press ahead with its proposal for a new community stadium at the end of Monmouth Avenue, a strategy that Mr Curtis feels is the only option that will provide the Terras with financial security.
Mr Curtis said that the club needs to make about £8 to £10 per person which comes into the ground - including car parking, refreshments and the cost of the ticket.
He added: "Only around 60 per cent of the people who come in on a match-day are paying full price and overall we are lucky to get £10,000 out of it.
"We hold 23 league games at home which is pushed up to around 30 with cup ties and friendlies. That is £300,000, which does not even scratch the surface when you think it takes £1.2 million to break even."
"That is why it annoys me when I hear people constantly moaning about prices. They want cheap tickets, cheap food, cheap parking and not only that they want to see the team win the league.
"So what I think they are saying to me is that they want Conference South football with a part-time club being run by volunteers.
"Like any business you have got to make it pay and this situation will never change until we move to a new stadium that gives the club an all-year round income."
Your Say YourDorset Echo
Matt, says...
10:35am Wed 8 Oct 08
Experianced at running a club yes, but look what's happened to us in his time as a director here.
Big Daddy, Weymuff says...
10:42am Wed 8 Oct 08
Experianced at running a club yes, but look what's happened to us in his time as a director here
Oh dear I can see it happening now.
Curtis is about to lumber is with someone as useful as a condom with a pin **** in it.
Is he really doint the best fro WFC or is it just for M Curtis Esq?
AG, Weymouth says...
10:53am Wed 8 Oct 08
Twibel wrote:2500 - YEAH RIGHT. WEYMOUTH DIDNT EVEN GET CLOSE TO AVERAGING THAT WHEN THEY WON THE LEAGUE.
Same old Same old try reducing your prices you will probably get more through the gate better to have 2,500(25,000) paying a tenner than 1000 paying fourteen quid(14,000) isn't it ??
THATS IT, A SEASON OF WINNING LOTS OF GAMES.
vistana, Florida says...
11:17am Wed 8 Oct 08
Big Daddy wrote:Suggest a viable alternative, instead of rubbishing what you clearly know nothing about!
Experianced at running a club yes, but look what's happened to us in his time as a director hereOh dear I can see it happening now. Curtis is about to lumber is with someone as useful as a condom with a pin **** in it. Is he really doint the best fro WFC or is it just for M Curtis Esq?
vistana, Florida says...
11:20am Wed 8 Oct 08
Twibel wrote:Get real. If adult admission was reduced to £10, how many more punters would it bring in, paticularly if our form dipped?
Same old Same old try reducing your prices you will probably get more through the gate better to have 2,500(25,000) paying a tenner than 1000 paying fourteen quid(14,000) isn't it ??
Folk are worried about meeting their financial commitments, so reducing the prices might well win goodwill, but will also bring more debt.
terra firma, wimborne says...
2:14pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Those with any knowledge of the building trade will know that is an area already badly hit by the current financial situation.
So Weymouth FC is being hammered on two fronts - just like the Hammers - and is struggling to keep afloat. Instead of barracking, why not give MC and co a break for trying, and not judging whether this is on his or our behalf. We both need to win, and there doesn't appear to be a viable alternative
Big Daddy, Weymuff says...
2:23pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Surely it would be common sense to get someone on board that ACTUALLY KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!!
weymouthfred, weymouth says...
3:11pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Big Daddy wrote:We used to have a few people at the club who knew what they were doing. For a start, they did not sell off the land to their own company for £1. They truly had the clubs best interests at heart.
In our hour of need why LUMBER us with the failed director of a club that are really in the pooh? Surely it would be common sense to get someone on board that ACTUALLY KNOWS WHAT THEY ARE DOING!!!
Dave S, Weymouth says...
3:52pm Wed 8 Oct 08
weymouthfred, weymouth says...
4:03pm Wed 8 Oct 08
spoon, Poole says...
4:03pm Wed 8 Oct 08
I dont think AFC's new oweners recognise the previous fan investement or supporters groups?
weymouthfred, weymouth says...
4:07pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Big Daddy, Weymuff says...
4:32pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Big Daddy, Weymuff says...
4:33pm Wed 8 Oct 08
skcidregor, westham says...
7:30pm Wed 8 Oct 08
terra firma, wimborne says...
7:50pm Wed 8 Oct 08
skcidregor wrote:That's what they call out of the fat and into the FIRE. Are you seriously suggesting we should bed share with Mitchell & co?
we should get out of Wessex and ground share with Dorchester
castrol r, dorchester says...
9:39pm Wed 8 Oct 08
Big Daddy, Weymuff says...
10:10am Thu 9 Oct 08
Eddie mitchell DTFCs upstanding gentleman in the local parish just the chap to form a ground share with an honest man of integrity and his word
Yes we all believe that as well
He would probably want his son to play for us as well
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Twibel, Portland says...
10:32am Wed 8 Oct 08
better to have 2,500(25,000) paying a tenner than 1000 paying fourteen quid(14,000) isn't it ??