Bill Dickie steered the shareholders through the formal business of the meeting and Stuart Robertson presented the financial statement. It seems that the finances are 'pretty much as last year' and a small profit was declared. Alan Dick congratulated the board on the financial prudence evident from the fact that wages were limited to 59% of the turnover - a healthy balance.
It turns out that half of the sum which the club will accrue from the McFadden 'sell on' clause will be diverted to give creditors from the days of administration a second dividend. The timing of the transfer meant that the creditors were due a cut of the proceeds of his sale.
Directors Rose and Swinburne were re-elected to board for another term.
Dickie then announced that (for the third time) he was standing down as chairman and that John Boyle was back in charge. He accepted the post of vice chairman.
Boyle then addressed the meeting and thanked bill for his service (33 years on the board, the longest serving director in
They were delighted to secure the services of Mark McGhee and feel that he has reinvigorated the club. He was able to secure the services of some experienced players and improved the performance of many of the existing staff. Some contracts have been extended - Reynolds, Clarkson, Darren Smith, Archdeacon and Quinn. Craigan has accepted enhanced terms.
£40k had been spent on the pitch last close season and much of it on drainage!! More work will be done in the summer. Groundsharing has not contributed to the problems with the pitch and the reserves had not played at
He then indicated that the board felt it necessary to look to the future and investigate the possibility of moving ground. He stressed that they were at the very early stages.
It took a question from the floor to introduce the tragic event at the end of December and John Boyle took some time to reflect on the loss of Phil O'Donnell and the circumstances which surrounded the event. Mark McGhee was complimented on his handling of the situation and on the favourable light which he had brought to the club.
Mark McGhee spoke briefly to thank Bill Dickie for his support in the immediate aftermath of Phil's death and we moved on to general football questions.
The manager still feels that we need a stronger physical presence on the park and referred to the recent game against Hearts suggesting that they were a bigger team and that tipped the balance given the poor conditions on the park.
He feels we have made the top six already and reckons that five wins should secure third spot. He has no worries about playing Reynolds in every game and is confident he can handle the number of games. He pointed out that in his last season with
H expects to lose McCormack in the summer and suggested that Rossco be given credit for committing himself to us until the end of the season. On hearing that the referee for Saturday's game as was in charge against hearts he quickly said "He's a good referee" and turned to the Setanta TV camera and smiled.
There is no sell-on clause in the McDonald transfer (the steal of the decade - JB). And Mark sees the ideal squad size as 22. He summed up be suggesting that the standard of football in the SPL seemed higher than a few years ago and he is of the opinion that many players could easily hold their own in the English Championship.
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