I m not experienced in business, but without loss of £300k ( am I correct, here?) through sponsor (EF) going under, wouldn't we be less than £100k down( assuming loss of £300k had knock-on adverse effect on finances) ?
As we are, in effect, a start-up 2 years in, isn't this where we'd expect to be ( I assume, with only one play -off game & poor cup runs in that time it would be unrealistic to be anywhere near profitability)?
I'm not defending anyone or trying to undermine any opinions or suggestions for the future direction of our club,, just curious as to why we are in this place, now ( wrt our position at time AG took over).
Of related interest, can anyone say what our turnover is (& so, what is the relative size of our loss?) & how this compares to similar SL or championship clubs ( ie those without rich benefactors or ability to draw regular crowds of over 15k).

Eric France deal was 240k, thats monthly payments of 10k over 2 years, that deal was up at the end of season so providing he's paid up untill that point we lost far less.

With so many business experts on here I'm amazed we are in the trouble we are.

It is worth saying that a spotting club is very different to any other business. That's why successful business men seem to consistently fail after being so successful elsewhere

Sorry but it doesn't take richard Branson to work out that if your sailing close to the wind, the best course of action is not to sign 2 new players mid season and hand out contract extensions on increased money like they were confetti.

There is no defence for elston, he has made a right royal screw up

Richard Branson didn't last long did he ?

So if this is correct does it confirm my suspicions that we haven't lost the amount the club said originally when France went bust ie the whole lot, that it was a smoke screen to help explain the debts we had run up?

With Elston in charge at the time, it actually would not suprise me if he hadn't been chasing monies owed as he wouldnt want to upset the applecart, so IMO either could be true

I can't argue with you on this posting, apart from Davide Longo. Davi was head hunted to my knowledge by at least two other clubs last year, or the year before i.e. CEO at Featherstone Rovers which he turned down, and General Manager at Castleford Tigers, which he also turned down. Davide again its subjective, but IMHO is by far the most hard working, and honest person at Wakefield in the power positions. Dav has been there years, never left, and was the main figure in Wakefield Community Trust, as well as again IMHO being one of the few people who could have restored some confidence in the club from other agencies, and businesses. The history of Wakefield is a simple one, don't do any business with them they don't pay !

The club is a complete disgrace in relation to paying for services or products, and has been for many years, not just under this Clown like regime ! its been a problem going back to 1979.

This club sold 200 David Topliss shirts a few years ago, made 12K profit, of which £2K was to go to the RL Benevolent Fund, and £5.4K to the manufacturer the 2K to the RLBF never got paid, the later took three payments over 18 months with County Court dates only prompting payment. That is what local business and sponsors are faced with, hence the lack of trust or confidence in the club. Davide however has constantly worked to bring transparency to Wakefield, again IMHO an exercise in futility.

I'll second that.

Whenever I've had dealings with Davide he's been upfront & brutally honest.

I also have to come in to bat for Martin Hopkins; I've had a fair bit to do with Martin since he came into post and I have to say that he's always struck me as honest, hard-working and incredibly passionate about the club.

Empty vessels make the most noise; you don't hear much from Martin, but he's a grafter.

Been demoted to coo

@tanyaarnold: James Elston moves aside as chief exec to chief operating officer

And what exactly does a coo do?

Doesn't sound like a demotion far enough, sounds too similar to his last role. His position should be restructured out of the new hierarchy and made redundant. I'm sure, with his undoubted skill and talent, he won't be out of work for long.

Sounds like a job for a pigeon