Darlington Football Club Business Objectives

by Scott Thornberry - 2nd November 2012

The board of Darlington Football Club have formalised and published their Business Objectives for the forthcoming 6 years with the primary objective being to establish and promote DFC1883 as a successful and family friendly club, both on and off the pitch, growing the existing fan base and enhancing the match day experience for all spectators.

Full details of the plan are enclosed as appendix A 

The date for the first Annual General Meeting of the shareholders of Darlington 1883 Ltd has also been announced which is scheduled for Wed 27th March, time and venue to be advised. This is a formal meeting open to shareholdersand CIC members representatives in line with the requirements of The Companies Act 2006. It is proposed that the interim board remain in place leading to and following the AGM with a new board being elected at the end of the current season in line with procedures set out in the companies Articles of Association.

Darlington Football Club are also pleased to announce a Fans Forum evening on Monday the 19th November, starting at 7.30 at the Blackwell Grange Hotel, Darlington, where the board and manager, Martin Gray, will give an update on events on and off the pitch and answer questions from the audience. Normal bar arrangements at the hotel will be open throughout the evening.

Finally the club is also pleased to announce that, due to fans demand, the bar at Heritage Park will open at 1pm for home games for the service of drinks and food ahead of the game at 3pm 

 a: Implementing strict financial management disciplines, controls & reporting

b: Implementing appropriate corporate governance and best practice management behaviour

c: Creating financial reserves:

 i.   to accommodate potential variations in playing performance (e.g. promotion/relegation/reduced attendances etc)

ii.   to provide for new stadium facilities

iii.   to avoid the reliance on external funding or debt, thereby maintaining community interest objectives

d: Managing the football and commercial activities within the immediate financial resources available to the club

a:  Driven by suitably experienced and commercially minded Executive Board of Directors

b:  Creating a professional ‘off field’ image in communications with all external stakeholders, authorities, supporters, media etc

c:  Strategically aligned to the community interest operating model, which is to be developed and published for transparency with all stakeholders

a: ensuring that long term financial viability outweighs other short term aspirations

b: embedding the corporate governance and best management disciplines

c: enhancing the community culture throughout the club

a: ensuring that long term financial viability outweighs other short term aspirations

To gain 2 promotions (within 3 seasons)  Conference (Blue Square Bet) North, Conference National (Blue Square Bet Premier)