The Silkmen Supporters Trust has released the following statement.
The economic recession which has rocked the foundations of the society in which we all live has been the most devastating in living memory. The national debt has spiralled seemingly out of control, unemployment rates are soaring and businesses continue to go under on an all too frequent basis.
Despite the fact that many commentators are suggesting that the worst is now over, the long term effect of the recession remains a fundamental concern.
In many ways, Football Clubs are well placed to feel the full effect of the "credit crunch" and anyone who picks up a newspaper or switches on the television will know that many clubs appear to be in an incredibly precarious position. The impact of the economic situation has been added to by the winter weather and we would have been naïve to assume that Macclesfield Town would not be affected by these factors. The tremendous work carried out by the Board of Directors over recent months have helped the club ride out the storm but we think that now is the time for the people of Macclesfield to stand up and be counted.
Following on from recent articles on the Official Website and in the Macclesfield Express, Vice Chairman Andy Scott met with Supporters Trust members on Monday 1 Feb 2010 to clarify the club's current situation.
Andy made the challenge clear. The club is facing a shortfall in its revenues this season that has been made more challenging by the big freeze and is asking the Trust for help in bridging the gap.
The club is doing everything it can to address the problem but Andy made it clear that a £50K contribution from the Trust over the next few months would make a big difference.
It is therefore time for fans of the club, and the people of the town to "Back Macc" and do everything they can to ensure that the future of the club is not only secure, but also exciting.
To this end, the SST has launched the "Macc to the Future" campaign which will see many initiatives announced over the coming weeks in a bid to help our beloved club ride out the storm of the recession, as well as providing a platform for people to really get involved in ways in which they maybe have not done previously.
Although a major element of the campaign will be fundraising, this is not designed to be a metaphorical begging bowl. Of course, raising money for the club is the primary aim, however by injecting originality and fun in to many of the initiatives which will be announced, we hope that this will act as a very positive vehicle in terms of enhancing the matchday experience as well as your own sense of involvement in what is essentially your club.
In addition to the many initiatives that will be announced over the next few weeks, one of the simplest and most effective way in which you can help the club is through Gold Bond Lottery. Not only does this give members a chance to win a significant cash prize every week, it also gives the club a regular and significant income.
4000 members does sound a lot, but if 800 fans each joined and also encouraged just four other friends, family members or colleagues to join, then we have reached our target.
In the face of adversity, our loyal fans have always rallied to the cause and this gives us an incredible amount of optimism for the future. We all love our club and this exciting venture will give us all a chance to unite once again to show just how much.
The "Macc to the Future" campaign is totally inclusive and therefore whatever help or support you can give would be greatly appreciated by the club, the Trust and most importantly current and future fans of our beloved MTFC.
If you have any ideas in terms of initiatives which could become part of the "Macc to the Future" campaign, please do contact any Supporters Trust Board Member directly or email Bob Trafford at rjetrafford@yahoo.co.uk
We will be issuing a newsletter at the forthcoming home fixture against Shrewsbury Town outlining our plans further and look forward to your support.
