The 101st meeting will hear that Motherwell Football and Athletic Club Ltd produced a modest pre-tax profit of £122 000. The accounts will be presented and they reveal a few interesting items. Gate receipts dropped by £224 000 and income from TV and Radio fell by £105 000. The costs in running the club were broadly unchanged over the previous year and a one off payment related to the cluster of mobile phone masts at the ground produced almost £400 000 to tip us into the black. Over £30 000 was donated to charity.
The figures show, yet again, the difficulty presented to those of us who advocate a reduction in gate prices. Monies paid by spectators account for almost half of the club's total income. The notion of slashing entry prices in the hope that crowds come flocking back must be seen as a big gamble. Nevertheless, MFC (and the rest of the clubs) have to do something to attract more paying customers through the turnstiles.
Following deliverance from the years in administration the club is able to sell shares. A number of fans have taken the opportunity to own a token share or two and the Supporters' trust now has a block of shares. It is possible that the question and answer session with the board and manager which will follow the formal business might elicit more information concerning the past and future activities at