Summary of the Dons Trust Board monthly meeting held on Monday 11 February
AFC Wimbledon Chief Executive Erik Samuelson presented the 6 months Financial Report and Forecast to 30 June 2013. The forecast was based on key assumptions that the Club will stay in League 2; that there will be limited costs associated with a possible new stadium in Merton, and that budget variances eg programme sales will continue into the second half of the year. Despite the additional spending on players, the forecast loss for the year before depreciation is £39,397, which is £7,435 better than the budget.
Erik then presented the quarterly Football Club Board report. Key issues discussed included the possible consequences of the banana throwing incident at the Port Vale game; areas of the business that are behind budget and need attention; and the Youth Development Programme which is facing various pressures to increase its budget for next year.
Erik updated the Board on the outcome of the January transfer window and the prospects for the rest of the season. The Board acknowledged the hard work being done by the management team to safeguard the Club’s League 2 status and assured the FCB that it would provide all the support it needed.
The Board also expressed its appreciation to the volunteer team running the We Are Wimbledon Fund which to date had raised around £11,000 (annualised) to support the playing budget.
Other topics:
- Erik gave a short update on developments concerning a possible new stadium in Merton.
- A paper was presented on the new AFC Wimbledon charity. Its recommendations were approved by the Board, including the name which will be AFC Wimbledon Community Foundation.
- Two of the new DT Board working groups – Finance & Fundraising and Organisation and New stadium project strategic direction – gave updates on their progress to date.
- It was agreed that the DT Board could do better in engaging and energising younger DT members. It was agreed that this important topic should be considered further by the People working group.
Agreed minutes of the February meeting will be posted on the Dons Trust website shortly after the next Board meeting on 14 March.