Sittingbourne pull playing budget as finances hit "crisis point" with £20,000 debt

SITTINGBOURNE are the latest Kent club to announce that their financial situation has hit “crisis point,” writes Stephen McCartney.

 

The Bourne Park club have slipped down to seventh place in the Ryman League Division One South table - with a run of four games without a win – but the future of the club hangs in the balance.

The Kent club’s largest home league crowd of the season was when 186 watched their opening day match against Dulwich Hamlet, but the club cannot live off average gates of 131 – the division’s fourteenth highest.

Sittingbourne have played a couple of home games since the turn of the New Year, with a total of 216 people watching their two games against Chipstead and Eastbourne Town.

The club confirmed in a statement, which was published on its website www.sittingbournefc.co.uk, that players and management were told on Saturday that there was no money to pay them.

But the players showed character to fight back from going 2-0 down to claim a point at Walton Casuals on Monday night, courtesy of goals from leading goalscorer, Tom Bradbrook and a Billy Manners’ penalty.

 “Andy Spice and the Committee of Sittingbourne FC would like to pay tribute to the team and management that turned up to play against Walton Casuals on Monday night despite being told by Chairman Andy Spice, after the game on Saturday, that the Club could no longer afford to pay them.

“The Club has struggled to pay its way for a number of years but this year the situation has hit crisis point, with attendances at an all time low, affecting gate receipts, bar and food takings, programme sales and raffle etc.

“The poor weather hasn't only meant games being cancelled but has also led to the cancellation of a number of private functions which would have been held in the run up to Christmas and the New Year and usually help to supplement income.

“Last year, FA Cup and FA Trophy games contributed approximately £13,000 in income via prize money and revenue created by the extra games. This year’s lack of success in these competitions has cost us.

“The Committee have not taken this decision lightly but has decided that unless drastic action is taken now, the Club could face serious financial problems by the end of the season.

“At this stage it is still unclear which of the players/management will be leaving or staying. The committee understands that some may not be in a position to stay without wages and wishes all players and management, well whatever decision they make. 

“More news will be posted as and when we are in a position to confirm any decisions made.”

Sittingbourne’s next three games are away from home, starting at Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday, and their next home game is against Worthing on 29 January, followed by the lucrative local derby against Faversham Town (1 February), which was postponed over the Christmas period due to a snowbound pitch.

Anyone wishing to guide Sittingbourne through their problems are advised to contact club secretary John Pitts on 07505 134 135.

Club officials confirmed that the debt stands at around £20,000 and it would have almost doubled had the club kept paying their staff until the end of the season.

On-the-pitch, manager Gary Abbott takes his side to Dulwich Hamlet on Saturday, the third successive Kent side to face Gavin Rose’s side this week.

Last weekend, striker Rob Gradwell, scored a last-gasp goal winner to beat Whitstable Town at The Belmont, but Ramsgate came away from Champion Hill with a 4-2 victory last night.

Dulwich Hamlet are the fourth best supported club in the 22-team division – with average gates of only 214.

Visit Sittingbourne’s website: www.sittingbournefc.co.uk

Dulwich Hamlet  v  Sittingbourne
Ryman League Division One South
Saturday 15^th January 2011
Kick Off 3:00pm
at Champion Hill Stadium, Edgar Kail Way, East Dulwich, London SE22 8BD