Falkirk FC AGM: 1.2 million loss but club 'on the up on and off the park', commercial successes, 'Forever Falkirk' revealed

Sports reporter Ben Kearney looks over some of the key talking points presented to shareholders in last night's annual general meeting.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Who was there?

Falkirk FC’s board of directors: Gordon Wright (chair of meeting), Kenny Jamieson, John Wright, Keith Gourlay, Nigel Serafini.

Chief executive: Jamie Swinney.

Gordon Wright chaired the meeting, which took place on Thursday night in the Westfield Lounge (Pics by Michael Gillen)Gordon Wright chaired the meeting, which took place on Thursday night in the Westfield Lounge (Pics by Michael Gillen)
Gordon Wright chaired the meeting, which took place on Thursday night in the Westfield Lounge (Pics by Michael Gillen)

Football management team: John McGlynn and Paul Smith.

Chairperson?

There are no plans to appoint a chairperson at this time. Director Nigel Serafini confirmed that the board work by “consensus” and that they are happy with the current set-up.

The way forward

Falkirk FC's board of directors Gordon Wright, Kenny Jamieson, Keith Gourlay, Nigel Serafini and John Wright revealed a 'Forever Falkirk' fundFalkirk FC's board of directors Gordon Wright, Kenny Jamieson, Keith Gourlay, Nigel Serafini and John Wright revealed a 'Forever Falkirk' fund
Falkirk FC's board of directors Gordon Wright, Kenny Jamieson, Keith Gourlay, Nigel Serafini and John Wright revealed a 'Forever Falkirk' fund
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Falkirk FC’s board of directors have revealed a new supporters’ fund will be launched in the coming months, with the hope of alleviating the club’s current financial plight.

The ‘Falkirk Forever’ fan donation scheme will commence in May, with all monies raised from supporters going straight into the football budget.

Fans will be asked to join a 12-month long direct debit plan, which will require a minimum payment – with the amount yet to be decided.

By joining Falkirk Forever, those who subscribe will also be able to pay for their season ticket on a monthly basis too.

Kenny Jamieson was disappointed by the "lukewarm" response to the club's 'call to arms'Kenny Jamieson was disappointed by the "lukewarm" response to the club's 'call to arms'
Kenny Jamieson was disappointed by the "lukewarm" response to the club's 'call to arms'
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Director John Wright confirmed that fund will sit alongside the goals and aims of the Falkirk Supporters’ Society (FSS), and that any fan who is part of the society can also join the new fund.

He said: “More details will come in the next few weeks.”

On the night, as part of a presentation looking at how the Bairns can move forward, Wright also shared that match ticket pricing would increase next campaign.

He added: ‘Pricing hasn’t changed in years and we need to fix anomalies within our current structure, which will result in some increases. Great consistency across the board is key.’

Jamie Swinney hailed the club's "remarkable" turn around on and off the parkJamie Swinney hailed the club's "remarkable" turn around on and off the park
Jamie Swinney hailed the club's "remarkable" turn around on and off the park

Director Kenny Jamieson admitted that the Falkirk Forever fund comes as a direct response to a “lukewarm” response to fan ownership in general, with FSS membership way below what the club had aimed for.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With 600 members now signed up to FSS, he says it is still “nowhere near enough” but that the board are committed to a fan ownership model over bringing in a “wealthy investor”.

"We made a decision to be brutally honest about our situation and we put a strongly worded statement out there saying that we wouldn’t see out the season, but we still didn’t get a surge in numbers,” he said. “We got around 100 FSS sign-ups and three new Patrons, and I thank those that did join up.”I am not trying to criticise but we have to really revisit the appetite for fan ownership and see if it is really there.”

Director Nigel Serafini added on FSS: “The growth curve needs to ramp up. We have 380,000 shares and are the fourth largest shareholder in the club currently, but it has to increase in order for it to be successful.

"Morton have 950 members for example, St Mirren are at 1,200, we can reach way beyond that. It will take four years to reach our targets at the moment, we don’t have four years of time.”

1.2 million loss

John McGlynn reckons his squad is ready to go the distance 'if need be' to reach the ChampionshipJohn McGlynn reckons his squad is ready to go the distance 'if need be' to reach the Championship
John McGlynn reckons his squad is ready to go the distance 'if need be' to reach the Championship
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Director Keith Gourlay confirmed the club’s losses for the financial year stood at £1,156,945 with the Bairns existing “hand to mouth” spending more than they earn.

He said: “There is no opportunity to be sustainably successful. Our current model relies on things like player sales and cup runs.”

However, despite the alarming figure – he says the club has come “leaps and bounds” over the past year.

The Bairns have already beaten last years turnover and are on target to see out the season despite the projected £400,000 operating loss.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chief Executive Jamie Swinney added that the club had bounced back from “the lowest point in the club’s 146 year history” and that a three-year rebuild across the whole club is going well, focusing “solid business principles”.

“The non-playing staffing at the club is now the most cost effective it has ever been,” he continued. “We’ve sold out hospitality 12 games in a row now and our retail sales of £180,000 is highest in eight years.

"Commercial is now the biggest income area of the club, bringing in slightly more than our football income.

"Our £200,000 from sponsorship is on course to be our highest income in eight years too, and it will only get bigger next year.”

New pitch

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Swinney confirmed the club have successfully applied to the Scottish FA for a grant, on behalf of the Department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), that will see 50 per cent of the cost towards replacing the current surface funded by the UK Government.

“We will have a new pitch in place for the start of next season,” he said. “The £300,000 cost will be halved and it was a no-brainer for us to do this now. The chance of funding may never come up again.”

First team manager John McGlynn added: “It will allow us to bring in better players. When I first joined the club, a complaint from almost every player was the poor quality of the current surface, it is massive for us.”

Manager update

McGlynn says the current group is “fairly well equipped for Championship football should they earn promotion this year” and they are prepared to the distance if it comes to it to get out of League 1.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We want to get to the Premiership,” he said. “Me and Paul are here for the long-term. We want to play football that the fans want to come and watch. We have a right get chance of getting promoted this year by hook or by crook.

"We’re happy with the squad and are ready for the extra matches if needed.”

He also confirmed that Paul Watson and Ryan Williamson are two to three weeks away from being back from injury, with Ola Lawal not too far behind them.

Related topics: