Foley reveals a playing budget cut of 55%

Sunday 14th February 2010

VCD ATHLETIC boss Paul Foley has revealed that the Ryman League have told the Crayford based club to make essential ground improvements to their Oakwood ground and as a result his playing budget has been cut by 55%, writes Jeff Perkins.

“Yes, it is true there have been budget cuts and yes they are quite severe,” Foley told www.vcd-athletic.co.uk.

“We had a small budget for this league originally which was the same as it was last season in the Kent League and now it has been more than halved, it is fair to say it is a very small amount now.”

When quizzed about why the budget had been reduced half way through season, Foley replied,

“The Ryman League have enforced some additional works that are required which are costing the club a fair amount of money.

“We have a deadline of the end of March to complete these works or our position in the league is under threat so the club are having to divert any available funds to get this work completed.”

When asked if these works have been completed before and will this see an exodus of players from what is unanimously regarded as the best squad of players ever seen at VCD, Foley replied, “You will have to ask the committee about the first part. Having announced a 55% expenses cut to the lads at training on Wednesday and then speaking to each one over the next two days, amazingly all but one of the 20 man squad that we have carefully assembled has agreed to see it out and just play football.

“If there is one thing that demonstrates what the playing side has always been like even from my playing days here, it has been the loyalty and unity of the squad and this just goes to underline that quality.

“There are some lads here that have played Ryman Premier and higher too but they are all sticking together, for the time being at least.'“

When asked how does this leave the club and how will it affect the considerable progress made over the last two seasons with promotion to the Ryman League and a position as high as 5th in the Ryman North achieved in the first season, Foley said, “I can't say it won't affect the playing side as it will obviously. We have always been looking to improve the playing squad and we were making real progress in that regard.

“If you were a bricklayer and someone said 'build me the best wall you can with £100 but then having built it you were told you were only getting £45' you wouldn't be a happy bricklayer would you?!

“But I do understand the problems faced and the limitations we have at VCD and the considerable efforts of a few good people so we have no other choice but to just get on with it.

“We were tasked with getting the club promotion out of the Kent League but maybe, just maybe the progress on the pitch was a little too fast for the club.”

VCD Athletic are not the only Kent football club that has been forced to trim their playing budget.

And Foley said: “The money that was thrown about in years gone by has gone, that's for sure. You have to be sustainable and unless you are a Lowestoft pulling in 700 fans every home game you need to bring in revenue in some way or become a club that plays young lads for no pay.

“We had a mix of experienced lads and some very good young players. We worked very hard on the management side in pulling in sponsors and between two of us we managed to raise £7,000 to cover all manner of items.

“Barry Bell is our goalkeeping coach but he put himself out and managed to pull in £5,000 on his own! The Chairman has been putting all of his efforts into pushing the club forward but it is tough job on your own.

“We were making really good progress in our first season in the league but we will clearly have to lower the expectation now, regroup and decide where the club goes from here.'

VCD Athletic attracted a crowd of just 59 against Heybridge Swifts in their last home game and will be looking for increased numbers in a trio of forthcoming home games at the ground at Old Road.

Northwood visit on Tuesday, before a resurgent Romford visit next Saturday, before the Vickers welcome Leyton on Tuesday, 23rd February.

“We will carry on competing as we have all season and anyway, I have always loved a challenge,” added Foley.

Article courtesy of www.vcd-athletic.co.uk

VCD Athletic v Northwood

Ryman League Division One North

Tuesday 16th February 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Oakwood, Old Road, Crayford, Kent DA1 4DN