Daggers look for £1.75M Budget

Dagenham and Redbridge are looking for turnover of around £1.75M during their first season in League Two. If acheived it would mean an increase of about 30% on last season. Although unconfirmed it is thought that Hereford United's first year in League Two brought a turnover of over £1.5M.

Steve Thompson recently appointed managing director of the Daggers was previously financial secretary at the club. He is well aware that his supporters will have greater expectations this season after promotion from the Conference.

"Now there's more people coming in than just our hardcore supporters and they quite rightly expect to be able to access the club shop on non-match days and be able to buy tickets in advance online," he told BBC Business.

"That then can't be staffed by volunteers because it needs to be a more permanent and structured environment and that's where we need to get in extra staff."

He is wary of Cup competitions.

"I always budget to be knocked out in the first round of every cup competition that we go into. I budget that we have a reasonable opponent, which gives me a little bit more of a margin."

Thompson hopes off pitch income will increase and also there is the possibility of a game being televised. But he realises that income is unpredictable.

The article went on to say that 'many clubs are trying to develop steady streams of income from non-football activities so they are not hit as hard by the changes that come from promotion or relegation.

'Dagenham's facilities are regularly used by such diverse groups as the Normandy Veterans Association, a dance school and bereavement seminars run by the clubs main sponsor, which is a local funeral director.'

Hereford United's manager Graham Turner spoke last week of his aim to increase turnover so that he would be able to compete for players. Whether the Bulls can reach a turnover of £1.75M remains a doubt. However if that level of turnover was reached Turner could have a wage budget of around £1.15M which would be around £400,000 more than the Bulls' last year in the Conference.

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