As usual the formalities were rattled through in minutes and the evening was given over to a question and answer session between the directors, the manager and the shareholders.
It was agreed that Derek Weir should chair the meeting and it was later mentioned that the election of a chairman would be a priority when the board was augmented by the arrival of the two nominees from the Well Society.
The loss (£600K) shown in the financial statement was mainly as a result of having no transfer income and disappointing cup runs and we were in the fortunate position of having a healthy profit (£550K) in the bank to produce a fairly even two year spell.
The prospects for the current year would “continue to be tough”. Derek Weir felt that the club (and other SPL clubs too) had been let down by the fans who had influenced the vote over the summer with the promise of increasing attendances – it hasn’t happened. The club will be asking for use of the Society’s overdraft facility in March.
Leeann Dempster gave a brief overview of developments behind the scenes. The Youth Development section has been restructured and is now based at the football academy at Braidhurst HS. The atroturrf behind the East Stand has been upgraded thanks to the thriving Community Trust. Between 500 and 600 kids are playing football in our community programme (the only one in the SPL with the SFA quality mark). The club is hoping to hold an open meeting next week to allow discussion of the SPL reconstruction proposals.
Stuart McCall gave an update which revealed that he has spoken to the agents of all our out of contract players. He seemed resigned to losing some of the current squad but pointed out that opportunities would arise for our younger players. This would be a common position with our competitors. The circumstances surrounded Jamie Murphy’s transfer were also discussed.
The Q&A session focussed on the problems our fans had at Kilmarnock and other ground that had a ticket only entry system and then a wider discussion about the fall in numbers of visiting supporters. Leeann outlined the difficulties there were in attempting to get an Away Season Ticket agreed but suggested that the notion had the club’s support.
The drainage problem that resulted in the recent postponement would be treated in the close season at the same time as the pitch would be reseeded. An “earthquake” machine would use sonic waves to break up the compaction that is reducing flow to the drains.
The meeting ended up after 90 minutes.