The thoughts of Director Mark McGuire

Its been a hectic few weeks off the pitch as we continue the work to create the structures we’ve promised.

We held a workshop the day after the Walsall game, where we spent a whole day planning the strategy for next season and indeed for the next five years.

We have in place a detailed five-year business plan, every eventuality in terms of finance has been accounted for, regardless of the division we are in we have a plan and it gives us the opportunity to become more strategic, along with Jim and Wardy, and just as importantly the managers of the Commercial and Media areas, we can all identify the area where the is most opportunity for improvement and growth.

Its is quite possible the first time in the history of the club that such planning has taken place, and certainly the first time that people like Des Hinks and Martin Booker have been involved in the decision making, which is pretty ridiculous when you come to think of it.

After a recent meeting with a long established sponsor of the club, who frankly have been treated pretty badly by County over the years, the gentlemen concerned commented that he’d been associated with the club for 50 years, and that is the first time that anybody had spoken in a business like fashion to him.

The workshop was incredibly productive, we came up with a season ticket initiative, which will be launched shortly, and which will potentially see discounts for Season Ticket Holders next year compared to this, even if we get promoted, there will also be the chance to pay over a few months.

In addition we worked on how we can grow the whole experience of coming to Edgeley Park, so far its been down to the fans but the club will be carrying out various initiatives to make sure that the reputation of our fans and of EP continues to grow.

We agreed how we are going to deliver better value to our sponsors and work with them going forward.

Financially we have committed ourselves to publishing a full financial revue on an annual basis which will be available to anybody who wants it, and will demonstrate everything financially – the only thing we won’t publish will be (understandably) individuals wages, this will underline the complete transparency of how we operate.

We’ve addressed the merchandising side of the business and next season will see a full colour catalogue with a fantastic range of products available directly or by mail order.

There’s so much more I could cram in, but I can tell you there are likely to be some major announcements over the coming weeks with regard to kit, tickets and the profile of the club will continue to grow.

We are not content with just being a trust run club, we are determined to create a new model for trust run clubs and the professionalism and progress demonstrated by Jim and Wardy will be matched by an entrepreneurial spirit off the pitch.

This is a very special football club, and the job is to put in place structures which will ensure it fulfils its potential!