Trying times for Latics

SIMON CORNEY . . . “we are in tough times and attracting new investors is difficult.”

SIMON Corney admits Athletic facing hugely testing times.

The chairman has been present at Boundary Park this week as the latest set of financial figures were released, showing a loss of just over £1.5million in the year 2009.

Having lost the backing of owners Simon Blitz and Danny Gazal since before the start of this season, Athletic are scrimping and saving their way what has been a promising campaign under new player-manager Paul Dickov.

Here, Corney talks to the Chronicle about the club’s money troubles.

How worrying is the financial situation at the moment?

I am worried in the sense that it is getting harder and harder each year. It is important as well to recognise that it is not just us.

Walsall are struggling for crowds and Rochdale, who earned promotion through such a great season last year, are only getting crowds of 3,000.

There are clubs in our division, like Southampton, with vastly superior funds.

The gap between the haves and the have-nots is just getting bigger and bigger.

People have also drifted off to watch Manchester City and the like and while that is unfortunate, it isn’t that we have done anything wrong to contribute to it.

The state of the economy hasn’t helped, either.

How is the club being funded beyond this season?

Funding is not in place for this season — funding stopped at the start of this season.

I think that when we said at the start of the campaign that the budget was in place, people thought we had the money to pay for it.

What we meant was that we have a budget in place and commitments which need to be paid for.

Monies are having to be found elsewhere.

What can be done to address the situation?

The only thing we can really do is to reduce the budget.

You can sell 100 more programmes, more cups of tea or turn off the lights earlier, but that will only save you a few pounds.

Bigger crowds and a reduction in wages is the only thing that really has an effect and that is the same for clubs in general.

What about new investment?

We are looking. It is important that if someone comes along, it is the right person.

It is an open secret that the club is available, but we are in tough times and attracting investors is very difficult.

Is the imposition of salary caps in the Football League the way forward?

I am sick of hearing it. Everybody knows it is the right thing to do, yet when you put football chairmen in a room together they can’t agree on it.

You have got clubs spending £5million a year on wages who want to have a go and they have their point of view. I don’t think it will ever happen.

There are good people at the Football League and perhaps better leadership is needed.

For the greater good of football, it has to happen.

Is the state of Boundary Park holding the club back?

Boundary Park is not a pleasant matchday experience. It is 100 years old. People want to come to football with their families, to eat quality food in a nice facility.

There are great people working here at the club, but we all know that it has had years and years of decline and needs changing.

How important is a new stadium at Failsworth to the club’s future?

We are 100-per-cent committed to Failsworth and believe it will be to the benefit of the club.

If you look around at the sides that have new grounds — like Colchester, Shrewsbury and Chesterfield — they are right up there near the top of their divisions doing well.

Then there is the success story of Doncaster, who are playing in the Championship.

It is no coincidence.

How frustrating have the delays with the Failsworth project been and how far away is it from being a reality?

It is definitely frustrating. I would say if we are not there in three years, then it is not happening.

I would like to think there is an outside chance of being there in two years.

But I don’t want to put a firm date on it as that can come back and bite you.