Alan Crockford
Well-known Exeweb poster
We haven't really consulted our members yet, so I can't confirm right now whether there will be enough of us to continue the 1931 Fund for a sixth season. We will send a note to our members over the weekend, but the whole scheme came about through Exeweb posts, so it's always good to talk on here too.
Last year, City wanted to keep our man, Elliott Chamberlain, for a further season which, we'd have to admit, turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. I know that City were impressed by Elliott's work rate and athleticism, and he'd had a good grounding as a kid at Leicester, so I can see why Tis chose to use our funding to give Elliott the extra year that he wouldn't have got without our cash. It was clear in pre-season that there were plans to use him (he played against QPR, for instance) but it just didn't work out.
We ended up paying City £10,000 to part-fund Elliott's wages, and there will also have been income from his time on loan. The remainder of this year's 1931 Fund money (about £2,000) will roll over to next year.
So, what to do for 2014/15?
As above, we need to retain most of our members and recruit a few more. Please email us at [email protected] if you'd like to chuck in £19 per month to keep our fan-funded Number 31 scheme going.
Assuming we do get enough numbers, there are clearly a lot of young pros with a good chance of first team football whom we could fund. However, these are home-grown players who City *ought* to be able to afford to keep if they want. Our aim was to add 'one extra' to the City squad - a little gamble for the gaffa, a la Kellow, Miller, Harley, Dunne or Wheeler - and from previous consultations we know that's what our members would really like.
Assuming we do okay on the members front and raise a few grand extra with the help of our man actually featuring in the squad, we could perhaps offer our next Number 31 a princely £400 a week on a July to May contract. It's not quite enough, really, but possibilities include:
a) An anonymous benefactor helping us out (anyone?). or
b) A bigger club paying a percentage of a player's wages in order to release him a year early from his contract into our welcoming arms (that does happen, doesn't it?); or
c) Just finding a very good non league or newly released talent who is desperate for a crack at league football and isn't greatly bothered about money.
Has anyone got any ideas?
PS: As one of those who's spent over £1,000 now on Exeter City's Number 31s, I really don't need to be told that it's all a waste of money. I do know. And so does Dr Wife!
Last year, City wanted to keep our man, Elliott Chamberlain, for a further season which, we'd have to admit, turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. I know that City were impressed by Elliott's work rate and athleticism, and he'd had a good grounding as a kid at Leicester, so I can see why Tis chose to use our funding to give Elliott the extra year that he wouldn't have got without our cash. It was clear in pre-season that there were plans to use him (he played against QPR, for instance) but it just didn't work out.
We ended up paying City £10,000 to part-fund Elliott's wages, and there will also have been income from his time on loan. The remainder of this year's 1931 Fund money (about £2,000) will roll over to next year.
So, what to do for 2014/15?
As above, we need to retain most of our members and recruit a few more. Please email us at [email protected] if you'd like to chuck in £19 per month to keep our fan-funded Number 31 scheme going.
Assuming we do get enough numbers, there are clearly a lot of young pros with a good chance of first team football whom we could fund. However, these are home-grown players who City *ought* to be able to afford to keep if they want. Our aim was to add 'one extra' to the City squad - a little gamble for the gaffa, a la Kellow, Miller, Harley, Dunne or Wheeler - and from previous consultations we know that's what our members would really like.
Assuming we do okay on the members front and raise a few grand extra with the help of our man actually featuring in the squad, we could perhaps offer our next Number 31 a princely £400 a week on a July to May contract. It's not quite enough, really, but possibilities include:
a) An anonymous benefactor helping us out (anyone?). or
b) A bigger club paying a percentage of a player's wages in order to release him a year early from his contract into our welcoming arms (that does happen, doesn't it?); or
c) Just finding a very good non league or newly released talent who is desperate for a crack at league football and isn't greatly bothered about money.
Has anyone got any ideas?
PS: As one of those who's spent over £1,000 now on Exeter City's Number 31s, I really don't need to be told that it's all a waste of money. I do know. And so does Dr Wife!
