Taken from the website:


STATEMENT FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats Chairman, Michael Carter, has this morning released the following statement to the clubs supporters:


Chairman Michael Carter has released a statement asking for the support of fans and local businesses.

Following the announcement of my position as Chairman of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, I would firstly like to thank all those fans that have wished me well in the role.

Having conducted a review of the whole business and in particular the finances of the club, it has become obviously apparent that the club is completely under capitalised at this time to the tune of somewhere in the region of £400,000. It’s no secret that the vast majority of Super League clubs all need significant investment and this is usually financed by wealthy owners.

This has led to a restructure in the top management at the club and ultimately it is now myself and another director, Chris Brereton, who are managing the club on a day-to-day basis. We are two fans who have stepped forward to try and pull this club through what is a very difficult situation and we would appreciate your full support in these testing times.

Therefore, ultimately it was my decision to sell Tim Smith to Salford with immediate effect for a substantial fee. I would also say that on the same day I turned down an offer of a substantial six-figure sum for our captain Danny Kirmond. Having spoken to Danny during the week and explaining that I want to try and build a team around him, he told me he was perfectly happy at Wakefield and is happy to lead from the front. As has already been announced, Danny has signed a new deal and my ultimate aim is to see him leading us out at Newmarket as a Super League club.

For that to happen, we need all the fans of the club and local businesses to really step forward and show how much it means. We are confident that we have a business plan in place that can see us as a competitive team in Super League 2014. However, we cannot do it without immediate cash inflows including, but not exclusively, 2014 Memberships. We feel they still represent excellent value.

We have budgeted for 4,000 sales. If we sell more than this, I guarantee that these funds will be ploughed back into the team for next season. However, without any sugar daddy waiting in the wings, I have to run this club as a business. Expenditure must equal income. If there are people out there willing to invest in this great club then they must come forward now.

On the positive side, we have managed to extend the contracts of some of our key players. I have already mentioned Danny, but also Dean Collis and most recently Lee Smith and Ali Lauitiiti have all signed up for next season.

We are also soon to launch our Sport & Education Academy. We want to make this college the best around in terms of providing further and higher education to young people looking to get a sporting qualification. It will also generate funds that again will be ploughed back into the running of the club.

It also means that our under 19′s Academy side will become full-time next season for the first time in the clubs history which is quite an achievement. We would love to have a team of homegrown players playing in front of Wakefield fans. This college also strengthens our position in the local community, something that our community team have quite rightly been praised for by many people and organisations – local people supporting local people.

I know that you as fans will have many more questions. I am arranging to meet with the Supporters Trust this week to try and explain the actions we are taking. I have always been an open and honest person, and where possible, I will aim to answer all questions if I possibly can.

I know with a lot of hard work and a little luck, we can get this club to Newmarket as a Super League club. It is more important then ever that you stick with me and my small team to manage this business properly. Should there be anything of great magnitude I will endeavour to tell you all as soon as I possibly can.

The question remains, does this great city of Wakefield want a full-time professional Super League club, or not? If the answer is yes, then I need your support more then ever before.

This is Wakefield. Together We Are Stronger.

Well done DaddyCool I already have a season ticket for next season and will buy the new shirt as I usually do when its out.

Can't argue with that logic!

What's happened to JE then?

That's a good statement from your Club. Hopefully a lot of the knee-jerk reactions I've read on here will have cooled down. Get behind your Club when it needs it.

Good luck.

'him and his small team'

I wonder if Jimmy has gone, if so that will have saved them about £80k and by doing that it would help player retention.

There you go - an open, honest statement.

Lets all get behind the new chairman and the club !!

Running the club as a business can only be a positive thing. No point spending what we haven't got.

Get ready Butcher - it won't take long before you find out what WTW fans think of Salford now you have seized their prized asset as well. Questions you were answering to the Cas fans recently will have to be answered all over again.

I have heard first hand of potential investors being handed to JE on a plate and he did nothing. please that person, go to this guy coz he seems to mean business

Just a small point Danny kirmond is staying great news, but what about Kyle amor?

Very honest and open,hopefully we can all settle down and help our great club move foward now!
I'm confident we have the right man in charge in Carter so lets all back him,I did the other day by renewing my season ticket hope all the others do so, by refusing to buy season tickets your only hurting the club!.

Thanks Michael . So fans once again time to get behind the club and be positive. great news re Danny too

Well, they probably won’t receive the same vitriol that a certain poster has been touting ever since Chase was rumoured to be off to Salford.

Good luck to ‘em I say, they were looking down the barrel very recently & now the future looks much brighter.

They must be nearing their overseas quota limit by now though?