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SPECIAL FEATURE
ALL THERE IS TO SAY AND KNOW ABOUT WYCOMBE WANDERERS ON THE INTERNET....
FINANCIAL HISTORY OF WWFC LTD
(first published July 2004)


Part 3
Summer 1999 until May 2002
Angling for a change



September 1999 - A loss of around £250,000 is reported in the Club accounts for 1998/99 after another season of paying off two management teams. Division Two safety is achieved but Chairman Ivor Beeks says to the Bucks Free Press "We can't carry on making losses like we have. No business can. We've got to balance the books this year which we will do, somehow or other, that's for certain" He adds "It means one of three things. We've got to have a good cup run. We've got to get more people in or we have to sell at the end of the year."

January 2000 - It's announced via the local press that the Wanderers Board have unanimously agreed to change the constitution of the Club. Club Chairman Ivor Beeks says "I haven't had any sleepness nights about it. For me changing the consititution is not a big decision because it's the right one. The whole town will benefit because it will give us a chance of getting into Division One". And for those members with concerns over losing the protection of the limited by guarantee set-up in favour of private limited company, he adds "If they stand in the way they are standing in the way of progress of this club."

February 2000 - Wanderers' members express concerns over the suggestions of bringing in outside 'investment' to the Club while Financial Director Graham Peart puts an £8m price tag on the Club. Manager Lawrie Sanchez joins the debate by saying "We're running against a ticking clock. By 2010 the divisions won't be as they are now. A lot of clubs will have gone part-time. We've got to make motions now for when the change comes. We need to be in Division One." He adds "I read that a fan would be happier if we sold our star player every year to balance the books. I'd be pilloried if I sold Sean Devine."

February 2000 - Graham Peart says that he would be happy to see a Supporters Trust formed and have representation on the Board. He said "I'm happy to have supporter involvement. My view is that it would be a good thing to have wider ownership. We'd consider anything that would secure the Club's long term future." Peart added that members would be consulted over takeover talks but warned members that the changes were designed to make the Club rich, not them. He said "There won't be any payouts. They'll lose their £1 fee and they'd lose their vote in the future. They'd have no further interest in the foundation of the Club."

April 2000 - Wanderers sell off defender Matt Lawrence to Millwall for £250,000 in order to try and balance the books during a season where the average home League gate at Adams Park was 5,100

May 2000 - There is more talk in the local press of proposed changes to the constitution and the idea of shares being offered up for £500 a time. It's understood that three local businessmen are ready to inject cash into the Club and there are suggestions of money making ventures being developed at the ground. Graham Peart said "We need new non-football related ideas to raise revenue. We have talked about a nightclub or ten-pin bowling alley"

August 2000 - A members meeting is called by the Club where it's revealed that a big investor has not been found and immediate plans to change the constitution have been shelved. However, an ambitious 'Three Year Plan' is announced together with a 'loan note' scheme with three new Board members plus the Chairman understood to have started the ball rolling with a £300,000 plus contribution. In the covering report in the Bucks Free Press, Chairman Ivor Beeks says "No way have we fudged the issue. We've spent seven months on this. We've talked to a lot of people and I think we've arrived at what's best for the Club." With regards to the money from loans, he adds "I can see that at some stage the capital will be coverted to share capital" Read more here

October 2000 - The Wycombe Wanderers Board of Directors hope to "transform the culture of the football world by setting a cutting edge example" according to Financial Director Graham Peart speaking at the Club's AGM on 16th October 2000. Losses of £264,000 are announced. Read more here

December 2000 - A mystery backer puts an additional £150,000 into the loan note scheme and is expected to gain a place on the Board. Read more here

January 2001 - Mike Greatwood is co-opted on the Board with a role of "Customer Relations and Safety Arrangements". Read more here

April 2001 - An amazing run to the Semi-Final of the FA Cup ends against Liverpool in front of close to 20,000 Wycombe fans at Villa Park. The run has generated over £1m in unbudgeted revenue. Club Chairman Ivor Beeks says there will be "pennies in the pot" for the Manager to spend. Read more here

July 2001 - Darren Currie joins Wanderers for £200,000 from Barnet while in October 2001 Stuart Roberts is another major signing for Wycombe after he agrees a £100,000 move from Swansea City. Meanwhile, Season Ticket sales reach a record figure close to 3,500 and the Club issue their first ever 'Mission Statement' as part of rebranding exercise. Read more here

August 2001 - A new 2,000 seater 'away end' is opened at Adams Park. The £380,000 project is funded by a 75% grant from the Football Foundation but the capacity of the ground is restricted to 10,000 due to a planning condition. Read more here

February 2002 - Wanderers announce the appointment of their first ever Chief Executive. Simon Monkman, who the press suggest is on a £60,000 salary, says "I'm not here to change the constitution..I think there are other wins to be had and more immediate results I can get by other means"

April 2002 - Integrity Software are announced as the new Club Sponsors in a three year deal thought to be worth around £300,000. The software company replace Verco who have sponsored Wanderers for the previous 14 years. The new sponsors launch an ambitious Player Trust Fund scheme with talk of raising £5m. The initial call for donations raises £23,500. Read more here

May 2002 - After close to six months of talks Wanderers secure a two-year ground tenancy agreement with London Wasps. The move, pushed through without any consultation with supporters or Club members, is hailed by Monkman as "The best news we could have possibly had. The ground sharing agreement will be nothing but good for everyone involved" Read more here

Read more
Part 4
Summer 2002 until Summer 2004
It comes down to this


Return to
Part 1
1979 until May 1993
The non-League years


Part 2
Summer 1993 until May 1999
The early years in the Football League



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Archive Index

Related Links
28 July 2004
The case 'for' and 'against'
12 July 2004
Final proposals in motion
2 July 2004
Share issue debate
21 June 2004
Postal voting allowed for final proposals
4 June 2004
Solicitors claim poor financial management
18 May 2004
Members hear proposals - part 2
18 May 2004
Members hear proposals - part 1
6 May 2004
PR mix-up over constitution
3 May 2004
Administration threat ahead of latest Members' meeting
22 April 2004
Board hear proposals
February 2004
Members meetings
Chairboys on the Net
11 December 2003
Player Trust awaiting relaunch
20 October 2003
AGM report 2003
26 September 2003
Financial review 2002/3
11 August 2003
Wage deferral revealed
8 August 2003
Directors announce sell-out plans
Chairboys on the Net
17 April 2003
Fans Forum - Financial Director's speech
14 October 2002
AGM report 2002
Chairboys on the Net
17 September 2002
Chief Executive departs
Chairboys on the Net
28 May 2002
Club safe not annihilated
Chairboys on the Net
11 April 2002
Player Trust Fund launched
12 November 2001
Change is inevitable - Beeks
17 October 2001
AGM report 2001
27 Sep 2001
Mutuality the way forward
19 Sep 2001
Club announce profit
16 July 2001
Club issue Mission Statement
16 October 2000
AGM report 2000
16 October 2000
Here is Customer Focus
31 August 2000
No to constitution change but three new directors
1998
Future plans from the archives

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