Read what Chairman Paul Hornby has had to say in his Match Programme column for today's game.
Hello and welcome to today's game against Cambridge United. It's funny but it seems a bonus to play a game nowadays with the weather and our old foe COVID-19. It will be really good to get out on the grass again, not least to see a number of the new faces but also to start moving up that table!
There has been hectic activity at the Club over the past month and I appreciate change is always unsettling. Part of the interview process was centred around how we become better and what do we need to change. All the candidates spoke of Football League experience so, in what is a traditionally difficult window, we've done quite a lot of business. I'm hopeful the new faces not only bring that experience but also will be able to gel quickly. As a Board, we've supported Michael through this process as we believe it was the only decision to give us the best possible chance of being in the EFL next year.
As I mentioned, it's an incredibly frustrating window. At times it’s almost like playing chess and waiting for teams higher up to make their move. I'm really happy with the additions we've made, and we worked long into the night on Monday to get the final pieces of the jigsaw in place.
As has already been made mention, this has come at additional cost. However, I'd like to reassure supporters that the Club’s finances are probably in the best state they've been in for the past 30 years! The Supporters’ Trust issued a statement recently alluding to a £700,000 loss this year and I'm still hopeful that with some robust management we will not exceed that number.
Finally, these notes are first chance I've had to mention our departing Director, Mark Hetherington. Mark is a good friend of mine and will obviously remain so; he was integral in pulling the consortium together, but I always said he was 'Mr Barrow' and put the heart back into The Bluebirds. His local links and knowledge were second to none and he'll be a big loss. I'll never forget during the 2019/20 season sitting together suffering indigestion such was the stress of the games! Really good times and he'll be such a miss.
Moving forward, we've had some enquiries to come and join the group which we are exploring. It won't change our position for 2020/21 so we have time to find the right person.
Enjoy the game, everyone.
Paul.