Chesterfield predict what promotion to League One would be worth
Promotion to League One could be worth around £900,000 in extra revenue to Chesterfield.
The Spireites have got ambitions to go up from League Two and consolidate in the division above in the next couple of years. Being in the third tier would mean a jump in attendances, with away fans selling out more often than not, while they anticipate that commercial opportunities will increase.
When in non-league, the Blues only received around £125,000 from the National League, but that went up to £1.45m in League Two, with £918,000 coming from the English Football League and £534,000 in solidarity payments from the Premier League.
Chesterfield made a loss of £2.3m in their first season back in the EFL, down from £3.3m in the National League, so promotion again would help bring that number down.
On how they reduce their losses, Kirk said: "Promotion plays a part but not necessarily the whole part. Getting promoted would be one big tick because I understand the commercial opportunities are much higher in League One. When we went to Stevenage in the FA Cup, who are quite a small club, the commercial revenue they manage to generate by being in League One was higher so that would be help."
However, clubs in League One are reportedly losing on average around £100,000 a week. It probably would be much harder for Chesterfield to compete at that level compared to 10 years ago, however clubs like Lincoln City and Stevenage will give them hope.
Kirk continued: “You see the losses in League One, there are some big boys in there, we would not be competing like we have done here in the top seven or eight, whatever happens we would in the lower quartiles of salary spends in that league.”
Promotion is not the only avenue when it comes to reduce losses, with commercial opportunities being looked at, while the average age of the squad has been reduced as they aim to have more potential assets on the pitch. There is hope that the academy could start producing in years to come, while the new football regulator could give the sport a reset in the next five years, with costs spiralling out of control for some.
Kirk explained that Chesterfield could break even or make a profit if they settled for finishing somewhere around 19th in League Two but that is not what anyone wants. “That is the state of football at the moment,” he added.