Terras chairman hits out at bankruptcy rumours (From Dorset Echo)

Terras chairman hits out at bankruptcy rumours

9:59am Wednesday 8th October 2008 in

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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."