Pitcher up for sale at 100,000

Geoff Pitcher, Kingstonian's international midfielder, is set to leave the club now they have been relegated from the Conference. The asking price is 100,000 and Stevenage Borough and Southport have both shown interest. First Division Portsmouth have also made enquiries.

The combative Pitcher was a key man in K's drive to the FA Cup fourth round. K's would use part of the cash for team rebuilding and one player who could figure in their plans is defender Lee Goodwin, whose contract talks at Dagenham & Redbridge have stalled.

Present: Alan Kingston in the chair + around 8 on top table including Gerry Desler (Finance), Chris Kelly and (late from a Conference meeting) Geoff Chapple. Also around 30 shareholders.

The main business passed without incident: the accounts were approved, also the appointment of directors and auditors.

Questions were asked on the financial impact of relegation. It was noted that the majority of income comes from sources other than gate money, such as bars, catering and hire of facilities. It was also noted that our last season in the Ryman has seen gates bigger than this year. The big football-related income is transfer fees (the last significant one being Gavin Holligan, and only 4K last year) and, more recently, money from TV rights, including the Trophy finals and the cup run. As for outgoings, the big item is players wages, and these had grown 24% in the last year. Something has to be done about this, and the board is looking at performance-related pay as contracts are up for renewal.

On more detailed finance points, we will lose 10K conference sponsorship, though there are discussions about a possible 'parachute' payment for relegated clubs. As regards the balance sheet itself, we have 250K borrowings as a commercial loan, costing around 16K/month. Premier Management invested 36K: repayment is linked to the possible future transfer of two (un-named) players, but if transfer receipts are not realised it seems that Premier don't get their money back. The 250K from the football trust was a non-repayable grant.

For the future, the board reported that they are looking to try and develop the use of the facilities to generate more income. This might include business conference use. Upsides for us are good parking and reasonable access, whilst on the downside the general location (close to the Cambridge Estate) might be regarded as unattractive. Also, improvement work is needed, not least to the toilets! The board do not presently have a strategy as such on bringing in new young supporters, but Junior K's is running well and the management do lots of school visits. We do however suffer from much more organised work by bigger clubs (Chelsea, Fulham, Dons), and youngsters we do capture often transfer allegiance to bigger clubs.

The use of the ground by Chelsea reserves was discussed. They used to have a 3 year contract but this year had just taken the one year, and offering a much reduced fee. Also, at the friendly they took 50% of the gate, the only big club to expect a share of the takings. Chris Kelly said they would only use Kingsmeadow in future if prepared to pay a reasonable fee.

On the playing front, it was said that player loyalty is very strong, and if we go down the club should be able to retain all the players we want to keep. Others will be released whatever happens as contracts expire. The general tone of the discussion here was a commitment by the board to finance a strong squad, but not at any price, with the clear objective of coming straight back to the Conference if we go down.

Geoff Chapple asked for views on whether we should change the away strip. No strong views here: some wanted white shorts, some black (one suggested hooped shorts!), some suggested we should play in yellow at home as we seemed to have more luck in these shirts. One commented that it is a pity the home crowds we visit don't see our famous red and white hoops.

Geoff then asked if anyone wanted to ask anything, particularly given the present league position. He expressed his disappointment that so many players had under-performed this year, and said he took total responsibility for the current situation, and for the lack of players coming in. The Directors had been pressing for more new faces, but he had decided to wait until January to review the situation, and thereafter had tried but failed to get several players. Some that had come in had not delivered as expected. He remained determined to see out his contract and specifically said that the red and white hoops were becoming ingrained. Whilst the board wanted him, he was happy to stay and put things right. To dispel speculation, he specifically said he had no wish to manage Aldershot. Of the team, the one player he singled out was Steve Farrelly, who he said was alone probably worth 12 points a year and had been badly missed.

In the discussion that followed, no-one seemed minded to give Geoff a hard time. One long term supporter thanked him for the excitement of the last 3 years, after nearly 50 years when we had achieved nothing of significance. His biggest regret was that Jack Goodchild hadn't lived to see the success we had achieved. This sentiment seemed to sum up the mood of the meeting, and with no-one wishing to wade in, the chairman closed the meeting and we tucked into chilli, sandwiches and wine, and lots of off-the-record chat I won't repeat here.

The club's core revenues will not be significantly reduced should relegation occur, as much of the income comes from off the pitch activities such as hospitality etc.

There is a strong loyalty factor amongst the players, and with the introduction of a performance-related pay scheme, hopes are high that many will still be around next season.

It seems unlikely that the annual Chelsea friendly will continue as there is disagreement between the two clubs on several issues, with the main problem being the 50/50 split of gate receipts from that game.

Geoff Chapple said that he was expecting a rough ride at the meeting as he accepts full responsibility for the problems this season. He feels that one of the main problems was the loss of Steve Farrelly. He also said that he has had no contact with Aldershot and that he fully intends to see out the remainder of his contract.

Chapple also said that, without mentioning names, some players have really disappointed him this season and that he himself has been "too loyal" to some. He also thanked the fans for the great support.

McDonald's parting shot

KINGSTONIAN'S surprise decision to dismiss coach Ian McDonald was still stirring up bad feeling around the struggling Nationwide Conference club yesterday with manager Geoff Chapple for once the brunt of criticism.

Chapple, more used to plaudits for his achievements at Woking and Kingstonian, went into last night's crucial home game against Scarborough with McDonald's parting shots still ringing in his ears. McDonald heard the news he had dreaded from chairman Alan Kingston who complained about a lack of new signings. The only recent arrival was Gavin Holligan, who returned to the club on loan from West Ham.

"I lost my job because the manager wasn't doing his job properly," McDonald said. "The only job I couldn't do was sign players yet I had been throwing players' names at Geoff all season.

"They took the easy way out by sacking the coach. Geoff is so much of an icon there they couldn't sack him. It would have meant paying out a six-figure plus compensation fee."

Chapple admitted: "Ian has carried the can. I have been too loyal to players who have served me brilliantly. They have been magnificent in the FA Cup but have not shown the same sort of consistency in the league."

Chapple has appointed Steve Sedgley, the former Tottenham and Coventry midfielder, to replace McDonald.

KINGSTONIAN COACH GOES

Ian MacDonald has left his position of Chief Coach at Kingstonian Football Club after 18 months in the job.

Explains Chairman Alan Kingston: "We are not a Board which lightly makes a decision that somebody should leave the Club. However, the facts are that if we continue the playing record maintained since Christmas we will very likely be relegated. We believe there is a need to create a fresh impetus and a new approach within the dressing room if the slide is to be arrested.

"For the record I should confirm that Geoff Chapple argued fiercely against the decision which was unanimous among the rest of the Board.

"In spite of strenuous efforts, we reached a situation last week where we had signed only one outfield player throughout the season with just 24 hours remaining before the transfer deadline. In fact we managed another signing right on the deadline but we felt we should take a further step to try to achieve a positive spark among the players.

Since January the Board has continually stressed to the team management that some current players should be released and new players brought in. As a point of fact the playing budget shows a 23% increase on last season further funds were available for new players.

"Without new players to provide a new dressing room impetus it was decided that a new coach with fresh ideas and different views was an option which the Board felt it should take if it was to fulfil its responsibilities to the Club.

"Such decisions are never easy, particularly when it is remembered the Club has not sacked a manager or coach for four years. This one has been taken in a genuine endeavour to meet the best interests of the team and its supporters. To have done nothing and to have kept going as we were, with a playing record which was leading to probable relegation, was not considered to be an option.

The Club hopes to make an announcement concerning a new Team Coach later today (Tuesday).

   Gavin Holligan, from West Ham United, to Kingstonian, Basis: Loan
   Dylan Norman, from Old Selbornians (South Africa), to Kingstonian, Basis: Non Contract
   Donati Lorenzo, from St Priest (France), to Kingstonian, Basis: Non Contract
   Alan Flanagan, fromBray Wanderers, to Kingstonian, Basis: Non Contract
   Sean Thurgood, to Kingstonian, Basis: Non Contract
   Johan Gouttefangeas, to Kingstonian, Basis: Non Contract