Fans to boost Lancaster wage pot

IN A HEART-WARMING and quite unique move for Lancaster City a group of supporters have banded together to boost the clubs finances ahead of another tough season in the Evo-Stik NPL.

Dolly Blue fans are set to meet with club Chairman Mick Hoyle and Director Ian Sharp on Tuesday May 22 in a landmark meeting at 7.30pm at the Dolly Blue Tavern to thrash out details of a fund to bolster the clubs wage budget.

It has already been confirmed that the player budget will be slashed yet again at Giant Axe and supporters have acted to give a huge fillip for City ahead of pre-season.

Former Chairman Mr Sharp set the ball rolling earlier this week after seeing a thread on the Dolly Blue Forum.

He said, “I noticed the chatter on the website and just thought, ‘We have to make this work’, we have about eight weeks before pre-season and if this gets going we can have a kitty in place before we start.

It will be such a boost to the club as we try and keep the club out of the red, it will also free up funds that we as directors would have sent the way of the player budget to pay the necessary bills to keep us afloat.”

The current incumbent Mr Hoyle confirmed any monies would be used on players alone and stressed the need to be financially astute.

He said, “Only five years ago certain people nearly ruined something that has been going a 100 years, we could easily blow money on players and not pay the essential bills but that is daft.

We are looking forward to meeting the fans and discussing these proposals further, the playing budget has been slashed by 25%, a necessity to survive but we all want success here, we are all here as directors because of our love and passion but if anyone out there wants to get involved with ideas or financially then the door is open.”

He continued, “What we do need is all local talent to step forward at pre-season training and show you are good enough to play for Lancaster City, we have been criticised for not representing players of Lancaster so this is your opportunity.”

Supporter’s representative Steve Wright thinks that Dolly Blue fans can make an impact.

He said, “There is real interest from about a dozen or so people and I’m confident six or seven at this stage are definite, this does not sound a lot but at this level that could make a significant difference.

We have to get as many people as possible to attend this meeting to pledge whatever you can, whether it’s £2 or £10. More importantly I would love to see some new faces come along, not to pledge money, but to see what this club is all about.

A few extra people through the turnstiles on a Saturday is just as important for this club.”

Dolly Blue manager Tony Hesketh has promised that any money donated will be well spent.

He said, “I follow all non-league websites closely and was thrilled to see that our supporters, who already pay to follow us, are willing to support our limited budget. It is a wonderful gesture and I assure you all that it will be used intelligently.

“We’ve already lost Lee Dodgson to Northwich Victoria and I’m sure one or two others will move on, but other clubs will be in the same boat and we will work well with what we’ve got, we’re not despondent about it.”