Gosport Borough chairman Iain McInnes slashes playing budget for 2020/21 in wake of pandemic

Chairman Iain McInnes revealed manager Shaun Gale has been forced to operate on nearly half the amount made available to Lee Molyneaux last term.

Despite the restraints, Borough have still managed to keep the vast majority of the squad from the previous Southern League Premier South campaign.

Gale has bolstered his playing options as well with Brad Tarbuck, Dan Wooden, Jordan Rose and ex-Oxford United youngster Aaran McCreadie just a few of the names arriving at Privett Park.

McInnes admitted he provided a 'big' budget in a bid to make it out of the division last term.

But now the Borough chairman – who formerly held a similar role at Portsmouth - has been forced to tighten the purse strings with the uncertain financial climate brought on by the pandemic.

'We had a big playing budget last year, I went for broke - and it nearly did!' McInnnes confessed.

‘We wanted to get out of the league and get up to a different level.

‘It’s 60 per cent of what it was last season.

‘Unless you’ve got an infrastructure and people coming through the gate, you can’t survive.

‘Our payroll is thousands of pounds a week.

‘If the season starts and stops, teams are going to be in big trouble.'

Gosport are also set to scrap season tickets for the forthcoming Southern League Premier South campaign.

Instead, they are going to introduce a rolling monthly membership initiative.

McInnes feels the new scheme is the most viable option for supporters given the uncertain financial climate.

‘We’re not going to have season tickets at all,' he added.

‘We’re going to have a membership for the football club and it’s only going to cost people five quid a week.

‘If you look at a season ticket at £160, what we’re offering is to come and watch a game of football month-by-month with no season long commitment, so if people can afford they can pay it and if they can’t they opt out.

'What we’re saying is don’t take £160 out of your budget, pay £5 a week and included in that you’ll get membership benefits at the club on food and other things.'

Adult monthly memberships are priced at £20 (per month) with concessions (over 65s and 15-18) paying £10 (per month).

Family tickets (two adults and two children - under 15) are £30.

More information at www.gosportboroughfc.co.uk