It's dubious as to whether higher prices will deliver increased income anyway. It depends on price elasticity of demand. For example, if prices go up say 50%, then crowd losses 33% will deliver net losses. Plus we won't get the non ticket match day income that is high margin

I am certainly not willing to pay a £10+ per game premium on my ticket - over and above current prices- simply for the “privilege” of the club being fan owned (which has no value to me whatsoever). If that is a widely-shared view (no idea if it is, I only know my perspective) then an increase in ticket prices won’t make us sustainable. If that means the club collapses because those who control it don’t want to try to follow the route used by basically every other club (ie an owner who funds the losses in exchange for the ego boost of ownership and the remote chance of promotion to the big time) then so be it.

Welcome back Galty! May your scratchcards deliver us from evil 😈

Alan IoW - any (non-AFCW) reaction to it seems to be lamenting the whole amount of money needed in the lower leagues these days. It doesn't matter if the BBC publishes something like that, because the club/DT should know that anything posted in public like the OS is going to be mentioned - if they don't like that, then don't publish it to begin with...

Rob, I agree about the decent story on a slow news weekend. There's also room for further stories such as; where's the ceiling for fan ownership or does being a fan make you a better football club owners? The BBC article is presented more suscintually than our musing in my view, and indeed does help further understanding. Whether it does does or not help the DTB who knows. We do know they read here, but seldom comment. In my view their attitude to WUP users is Dilligaf or gtfoh rather than AMA

🙈🙈 Wondered how long it would be

Stuart D - I am in 100% agreement with your last post. It is time to pay for the product.

I tense up a bit at the “shame on us” in your moral 6mdm. I totally understand the point you’re making but it’s clear that the fan base is made up of people with differing views on ownership across the spectrum from enshrinement to full sale.

My ticket prices increase along with increasing everything was serious if we want to be sustainable. I keep hearing that the IFR will change football and allow us to be sustainable. It’s absolute crazy and we all need to pay more if we want to be sustainable and not keep begging for donations and rich people to invest in us because they like giving money away.

The DTB want to find a minority investor (assuming 50% + 1) goes through who will also chuck additional money in on an ongoing basis for no return other than publicity, ego, altruism or insanity. If they find somebody, great, it will be a useful temporary hold until they decide they can no longer chuck money in. Then we will be back to where we are now. We need to decide what we want this club to be. I'm not sure now we know. Some want us to reach as high a level as we can, however we can. Some just want to remain in the EFL, whatever it takes. Some want to watch a financially stable club in our own control at whatever level that may be. Some want the best of all options and ignore the consequences.

Whoever was on the BBC website's sports desk probably just went through all the EFL websites for something to write about, and/or got the notification through Newsnow or similar. A decent little story on an otherwise slow news weekend

What has happened post move to NPL, is that our operation has been funded by one offs like player sales and cup income. Even last year 24/25, we had £1m sales (who?) plus Newcastle & Wembley and just look at the bottom line. Cash will run out by Spring latest, guess we're relying on ST cash to see us to April anyway. We've been round the houses on ticket prices, 3rd floor & Donations and albeit there are improvements (income figures are v encouraging) it's never enough

The BBC article may actually be useful to the club - its reach will go far beyond what a DTb or afcw article would

I see yesterdays joint DTB/AFC Wimbledon Board update a simple reminder of what has been published previously, with fresh news of investor engagement. Working capital is mentioned although unclear if it may be in the form of a loan, so my question is: does the investors' interest require the 50.1 vote to go through, or do we need the vote to go through for potential investors to step forward and become firmly interested? An investor may only be able to purchase a small stake in the club unless 50.1 is voted through, allowing the investor to contribute more. i think there are a fair few wimbledon supporters that are high net worth and would not wish to see our club sleepwalk to administration. the working capital inclusion in the update is to provide breathing space while the 50.1 vote goes through and the lenghthy process in completing minority stake compliance process(es). this is just my take on things currently.

Timmy I thought we weren’t allowed information on the £400,000 as there was potential legal action, if that isn’t happening then we should know more details.

We've had the debate about ticket prices before. Time and again there has been opportunities to look at discounts, particularly for the heavily discounted children's ticket prices, which have been ignored. The argument they are the future, totally missing the point there may not be any if we go bust, is lost. Even just removing discounts for the premium seats in the west stand has been ignored. All this is merely tinkering as it will never plug the gap that is needed. The worst thing that can happen, aside from going bust, is losing our stadium. My fear is that is what will happen, be it by selling out directly or via administration. We've had long enough to come up with a plan to sort this out. We've had long enough to present unbiased options, choices, responsibilities and ramifications to members to make an informed choice as to the direction we go in. The fact this never happened is what is so disappointing. It's bordering on negligent. No doubt the fan owned zealots will surface and some scheme to kick the can down the road again will be proposed, failing to grasp things are going to get worse. We need to act now. The football regulator has no real teeth. What a self-made mess.

We never found out about the £400,000 exceptional cost did we ? I guess there’s a balance to be struck between confidential commercial sensitivity and transparency

Trigger, i had also noted that employment costs are not split between football staff, admin staff and other staff, although headcount numbers are split between category. a footnote in the accounts for 2023-2024 could have at least explained with a %age, what split the £1m material increase in salaries & wages went towards.

Yeah these guys were trying to let out the space [Link]

Silk, Hackford has got more shots in than Orsi so either Orsi is not fitting in to the system or the formation does not compliment enough low crosses across the box. Orsi excelled at Crawley so our style of play in hoofing long will not help, packing midfield for second ball, will. again a nod to Crawley in the second half of season 2023-2024 and their ability to select different formations, especially away from home. Hackford is an exceptional talent and i would expect clubs above us in the championship are keeping an eye on him.

After the flood, I remember reading that the offices were all moved to the third floor ( flood insurance money used). The ground floor offices were made available for rent, I recall seeing them advertised.

Naz - it is unclear. Back in 2022/23 when I was still in favour of fan ownership, I challenged those wanting to sell out to produce a report looking at the various options in selling out and what they entailed. I even offered to help fund such a report but nothing happened. The past couple of years I have only been willing to vote for people who at least wanted to understand what was involved in selling out and we still need that report so that members are properly informed.

Good idea by the club to remind folks by e-mail last night that today's match is cancelled. Would also be good to do it when kick off time/day has changed (my mate missed a 12.30pm kick off thinking it was still 3pm!).

Lucky we aren't in the old Coventry days of renting a new stadium. We seemed F**ked when we were given the land and have no rent to pay.

Your moral Trig is what makes the most likely scenario, administration.