Financial overperformance, possibilities to upgrade infrastructure and the departure of a director were all on the agenda of Bristol Rovers' latest board meeting.
In a bid to boost transparency for supporters, the Gas have published a condensed version of the minutes from the meeting on January 20, attended by owner Wael Al-Qadi and CEO Tom Gorringe among others.
A number of interesting topics were on the agenda, including the financial successes and shortcomings faced by the club, plus the prospect of developing part of the Mem in a bid to boost capacity. Gasheads can read the minutes here and here are some of the key updates on matters behind the scenes at the club...
New stand at the Mem?
Aside from the score on any given Saturday, the topic atop the agenda for Gasheads is the club's search for a new stadium. Efforts to find a new home or redevelop the Mem have failed for decades, but the prospect of a development of the fruit market site in St Philips has raised optimism that the stadium issue – which has undoubtedly held Rovers back over the years – could finally be resolved.
However, progress – at least to the public eye – has been slow in recent months with neither the club nor the developer issuing an update.
The Gas have operated at close to capacity this season, with crowds in excess of 8,000 for every league game, and the club says it is looking to increase the number of people who can attend games.
The capacity has been reduced in recent years due to measures from safety authorities that have prohibited standing at pitch level, but Rovers did increase their crowd limits before the start of this season by removing a temporary stand in the northeast corner of the ground.
And the club says it is looking into further measures to boost capacity, with focus on replacing the temporary South Stand.
"Several items were presented to the board for input, discussion and to agree the proposed next steps," according to the minutes.
"This included the proposal to look to increase the capacity of the Memorial Stadium in the summer of 2023, through the installation of a new South Stand.
"It was agreed to take this proposal to the next stage, in order to create more detailed plans for further consideration and discussion."
As for a new stadium: "An update was provided on the club’s ambitions for a new stadium, which remains a priority," the statement said.
The financials
The club says there is plenty to celebrate when it comes to the financial situation at the club, with record shirt and retail sales this season, while demand for tickets is up, with 5,360 Gasheads snapping up season tickets and average attendances up 2,410 on last year. Bar takings have also increased by 25 per cent.
Turnover is also on the up in relation to the budgeted number for the current financial year, but costs are higher too, which has been put attributed to an "approved over-spend on the first-team squad".
The club is still due to make a loss, as it has done in recent years, with Al-Qadi set to cover the costs again to relieve the debt burden on the club. The operating loss was £1.5m in 2020/21 – the most recent figures, which were aided by the sale of Jonson Clarke-Harris to Peterborough United – and the loss for the previous year was £2.5m.
"The club had budgeted to make a loss, funded by the continued investment from Wael Al-Qadi. The budget set at the start of the season included a record level of turnover on top of the ownership investment.
"The current management accounts (December) were reviewed, showing a £537,488 overperformance so far this season on turnover to budget. However, costs were also higher than budgeted, largely down to an approved over-spend on the first-team squad. It was confirmed that the audited accounts for the year ending June 2022 were due for imminent release.
"The club’s matchday reporting mechanism was shared, showing matchday turnover across all touch-points is currently £116,427 ahead of the budgeted figure."
Training ground latest
The addition of The Quarters to the club's assets has been a significant boost to the club's reputation and functionality, with newly-signed players impressed by the facilities upon arrival, including those who have joined from a higher level.
The high-quality pitches plus on-site gym and dining facilities have enabled a significant upgrade to Rovers' pre-match preparations and the scale of the site in Hortham Lane, Almondsbury, means the surface has merely been scratched when it comes to the potential of the site.
The club has declared its intentions to bring the first team and academy together on one site and an update was provided at the meeting, with Gorringe empowered to take the project forwards.
"Initial options and strategy for phase two of the development of The Quarters were also discussed," according to the minutes. "The CEO was given the mandate to further explore these options to look to continue to improve the facilities for the first-team, academy and wider community."
Director departs
After more than seven years with the club and almost three years on the board, head of business development Karim Mardam-Bey has left the club.
"Following the meeting, Karim Mardam-Bey resigned from his position to explore new opportunities," the statement said. "He leaves with the Board’s best wishes and we would like to thank him for his efforts whilst in post."
Mardam-Bey has been close friend and ally to Al-Qadi and brought experience from a career in PR and communications to the Gas, but his role was not public facing and has always been fulfilled behind the scenes.
As a result of his departure, the Gas board now comprises of Al-Qadi, Gorringe, plus non-executive director Chris Gibson and supporters' club representatives Helen Wigmore and Stephen Lamble, who all attended the meeting.
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