I may have to cut the budget, warns Cray chairman

Sunday 27th December 2009

CRAY WANDERERS chairman Gary Hillman warns that the club will lose a couple of players if the club does not increase match day revenue, writes Stephen McCartney.

The Wands are presently one place above the relegation zone in their first ever season in the Ryman Premier League and held league leaders Dartford to a 1-1 draw at Princes Park on Boxing Day in front of 1,306 fans, which is a far cry from the Wanderers’ current league average crowd of 184.

And Mr Hillman, who issued a statement on the club’s official website www.craywands.co.uk , warns that manager Ian Jenkins may lose personnel if the club doesn’t increase its income.

“It’s absolutely critical that we run a Golden Goals (competition) and a raffle at every home game,” said the long-serving chairman, who has seen the club rise from the Kent League to the Ryman Premier League under the guidance of Jenkins and Joe Francis.

“Basically, if we don’t run a raffle and Golden Goals competitions at the Sutton (Tuesday night) and Dartford (Saturday 2 January 2010) games, and continue them for the remainder of the season, we may seriously have to consider letting two more players go.”

He added: “I feel this could mean the difference between staying up or being relegated.”

Already this season, the Wands have had to release some of their first team squad, and further cuts would hamper the club’s survival bid, in what will be the club’s 150th anniversary.

“Every other club we go to do those competitions and that goes towards the playing staff. Ian Jenkins is being disadvantaged because of this,” explained Mr Hillman.

“We have some very loyal supporters who go to our games every week, and I am appealing to them to get in touch with the club to help out and to everyone to support them when we do have such help.”

Mr Hillman has yet again issued a rallying cry for people to take part in the 100 CLUB.

“I was hoping to see the 100 Club reach the magical century before Christmas,” he said.

“We’ve currently got 70 numbers covered and I appreciate those members’ support. But we’ve only got 30 places left to fill in order to hit the target.

“It would be nice to think that some of our supporters, who haven’t joined the 100 Club yet, will do so in the next few weeks.”

The chairman is away on business now until the middle part of January, but anyone able to help the club out on match days is asked to contact either Kerry Phillips or Dave Jackson inside the boardroom one and a half hours before the game starts on match days.

To join the 100 Club, please visit the club’s website: www.craywands.co.uk

www.kentishfootball.co.uk will be covering this game.

Cray Wanderers v Sutton United

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 29th December 2009

Kick Off 7:45pm

At Hayes Lane, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EF