Chesterfield chairman Dave Allen on £42k annual profit, falling attendances and '˜negative press'

Chesterfield chairman Dave Allen has described the last financial year as a '˜positive one' after his club posted a profit of £42,000.
Chesterfield vs Walsall - Chris Turner and Dave Allen watch on - Pic By James WilliamsonChesterfield vs Walsall - Chris Turner and Dave Allen watch on - Pic By James Williamson
Chesterfield vs Walsall - Chris Turner and Dave Allen watch on - Pic By James Williamson

The Spireites raked in £2million in transfer fees in the year ending 30th June 2016.

In his statement accompanying the accounts, which also showed a fall of approximately £400,000 in gate receipts and season ticket revenue, Mr Allen suggested that negative press might not be helping the club’s attendances.

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Last season Town averaged 6,676 at the Proact and so far this season the average crowd for league games has been 5,620.

And he dubbed ‘pathetic’ a number of supporters he believes take a negative view on everything the club does, while also taking aim at the Derbyshire Times.

The club’s debt stands at £8,581,018, compared to £8,568,966 as per last year’s accounts.

The statement in full reads: “As I now put pen to paper for the year-end report we have just had a positive results on the field of play beating Northampton 3-1.

“They had a run of thirty five games unbeaten.

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“The last financial year was a positive one in which we achieved a profit of £40k approx. That’s two years on the trot that the club has made a profit, albeit mainly due to player sales.

“In order to substantially reduce the debt which is far too high we need to either have a really big player sale, a good cup run or a big increase in attendance.

“This year’s reduced attendance baffles me a little because whilst all the results have not gone our way we are playing attractive football.

“Maybe the negative press we get from some quarters is not helping. We shall see!

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“On a positive note our programme finished joint runner-up in the League One awards. Social media presence continues to go from strength to strength with over 100,000 Facebook ‘likes’ and 50,000 twitter followers.

“Senior Spireite lunches which are bi-monthly are always well attended as are the Sporting Dinners which are usually a sell-out.

“This club does seem to have one or two so called fans who are always knocking anything we try to do. I find it pathetic and the Derbyshire Times doesn’t help.

“All that aside we’ve got a fabulous stadium with excellent match day and banqueting facilities and a pitch that looks like a bowling green.

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“I look forward to taking questions on the night of the A.G.M.”

In his programme notes on Saturday the club’s CEO Chris Turner warned that people would be ‘surprised and alarmed’ by this year’s accounts.

The Derbyshire Times will release further details from the accounts and more reaction throughout the day.