Jimmy,

I do not usually post on here and will not go into detail but I can assure you that we have a very prudently constructed budget which takes into account known revenues and costs (including salaries) and realistic estimates of variable revenues and costs (including win bonuses).

We have budgeted for under 2,000 attendances at league games and on this basis we are forecasting a small profit for the year.

Obviously things do not turn out as forecast so we have constructed an interactive, 12 month rolling forecast where we can enter actual performance and it will automatically update the model so that we can, hopefully, spot any "pinch points" well before they become an issue.

In addition (and not part of revenues) the BOM has significant equity commitments which are to be held in reserve against any unexpected occurrences.

Obviously we are mostly new to pro RL (I certainly am) but we are treating it as we would any other business which we were involved with and implementing basic KPI reporting, weekly performance reviews, 8 week daily cashflow forecasting etc - people say RL is not like any other business but that is down to the emotional side and is not an excuse for bad practices (some would also say I don't have any emotions...).

I do not claim we have all the answers (as I don't even know some of the questions yet!) but we are trying extremely hard to get this right.

Yours in sport,

Michael Norris

Just to add to what Mike says we are primarily all fans of the club and want what you guys do a successfully and sustainable Leigh Centurions.

We've committed to 3 years minimum of financial and professional impetus which helps underpin the club but it's the ability to increase revenue streams and performance off the pitch that is key to future success and that's something we can't achieve without our fans and having the whole community behind us.

You guys and are the lifeblood of this club as we will create the vehicle for the towns people to drive forward.

It's the towns club and needs the towns people to take it back were it belongs.

Hence the strap line "We Are All in this together" because we really are!

Regards

Andy Mazey

They wouldn't if they sat/stood next to you on matchdays

I think we will find out which way our club is heading on January 19.

Almost 3000 which was our best gate of the season for the same friendly last season despite everyone knowing we would be thrashing Wigan's under 20's.

This season they will have to play their best squad plus Leythers will want to see our new squad.

I am confident the gate for the game will be much better.

My dad says 6500 will be on

Depends on what Wigan a re telling their fans ie the team they're bring over.
Well have our usuall 1800 fans there and a couple of hundred neutrals maybe but I do hope he is right as a big crowd will put a lot of money in our coffers to start us off on a good foot.

I have managed to get 5 to come who would not normally.

That windfall is paying dividends I see

On the subject of the op, isn't it great the doom n gloomers have nothing to whinge about squad wise and Wigan partnership wise that they now harp on about affordability, has the club removed every excuse for them not to come with P&R back on as well- not aimed at you Jim but the towns bar stool brigade
I can't wait for the friendlies

Young Nossy , I totally agree with you , but hopefully a few stay aways will come back , ive spoken to a couple recently who have they intend paying a visit to the LSV , and they haven't been before ,the Player recruitment ,and plenty of positive vibes seems to spreading around the Town , im confident we can be very successful this coming season , BOTH on and off the field .Charlie knows .

Slightly off topic but not that much....

I took some friends to the LSV for the World Cup game. None of them had ever been to the LSV or indeed ever watched a live rugby league game before but really enjoyed it and the father and son of the group are now coming to watch the Wigan friendly. I told him about the season ticket deal and he said that if the lad enjoys it he will buy a season ticket (the lad wasn't at the WC game because it was too late for him).

I'm sure we will be getting quite a few who will try it again after watching the WC.

I went to most of the WC games and the LSV was by far the best of the smaller grounds from the parking to the two for one pub within spitting distance of the ground for a pre match meal and beer, to the quality of the stadium with great sight lines and a close to the action intimacy missing from the larger venues.

The quality of the match was superb and if I were lapsed Leigh supporter or someone new to the game from the Leigh area, it would have encouraged me to come back and give Leigh my patronage.

I hope this happens in large numbers and, if it does, this will be just the kind of boost to RL that was hoped for from the WC.

This post, the obvious passion and straight talking common sense in the postings of Andy and others involved, and the squad that has now been put in place, have me more excited about the coming season than I ever have been since I was a kid behind the sticks at Hilton Park.
I thank every body that has ever put there time and/or money into our club before. And now urge every one of us to get behind what I believe is the best BOD and team combination we have had for many a year.

Totally agree, VL...as a Chartered Accountant myself I probably appreciated Toadstool's post more than most! All the right noises being made as well as concrete actions...looking forward to the new season immensely...