TUFC accounts y/e 30/6/18

I'd viewed 2020 more as a target, and a pretty ambitious one at that, rather than any sort of 'deadline' with all the ramifications that could conjure up.

The club forging ahead with their scheme or forking out for detailed plans, at a time when, as Devon Live points out: 'Councillors have already voted in principle against the idea' of developing Nightingale Park, would have been a rash and most undiplomatic move, and possibly resulting in Councillors digging their heels in to an even greater extent.

Personally, I was only too happy for the focus and a big chunk of the finance, to be directed towards the football itself, and an all out assault on the NLS and overcoming it at the first attempt. That said, TUFC based at Plainmoor is a business that has leeched money for a good long while, to the extent that you can hardly give it away if it had to stay marooned at it's present location.

Big expenditure is fine and can continue.....but only as long as the real prospect of big revenue coming on stream fairly soon is realistic. Level headed Gulls fans know we can't have our cake and eat it.....and if political power games or petty officialdom pushes things too far, or indulges in unnecessary brinkmanship, while clipping the wings of an ambitious football club too severely, then we can all foresee the unhappy consequences.

If it's possible that we've broken even this season so much the better, although I'm not too certain it will be achieved. There's been a lot of expenditure. For a start employing a first rate Manager will have been a not inconsiderable outlay, as well as paying up the old one. Then there are other staff in managerial or administrative roles who will have got a financial settlement to leave. Players, from Super Josh downwards, won't have walked out the door for our convenience.....and if they were on a good number here they'll have got their agent to insist their contract was paid up. A number of postponed games, when there will have been an outlay in advance that you're committed to, whether the game goes ahead or not.

On the plus side, there's been improved attendances to boost the coffers, and our Chairman has commendably saved money on travel costs from Somerset by not scheduling any meetings with TUST. Take care of the pennies and promotion will take care of itself....but remember those overnight stays before, and sometimes after games, all had to be paid for. Financial matters will remain a great concern until we can breathe a sigh of relief on hearing the news that the Osborne Arena has been given the go ahead. It's a feature of modern life where politicians are involved. Plenty who voted in June 2016, probably didn't dream that as we head towards Summer 2019, that political foot dragging would still be denying the will of the people. Let's hope local political games aren't used to deny the will of our football club.

#CLARQUAY