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Trust Holds Foodbank Collection To Help Needy Families In The Vale of Glamorgan

Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust – with support from Cardiff City Football Club – will hold a fourth foodbank collection to help families and individuals struggling in the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

A food donation point will be set up from 12.30pm close to the Trust office (near Gate 5) before Cardiff City’s clash against Sunderland (3pm) on Easter Monday,  April 10th.

Food collected will be delivered to the Vale Foodbank and the Trust hopes to carry out a further collection for a local foodbank before Christmas this year.

The Vale Foodbank has five distribution points in Barry, one each in Dinas Powys and Llantwit Major and delivery points in Penarth and St Athan. In January 2023, 315 vouchers were issued for 3-day emergency food packages. These packages fed 370 adults and 215 children.

There has been an 84% increase in vouchers issued between January 2022 and January 2023 and as with other foodbank there has been a marked reduction in food donations received recently.

Trust vice-chair David Craig said: “The cost-of-living crisis shows no sign of easing and it means many families and individuals continue to find it difficult to put food on tables and heat their homes. While at the same time, donations to foodbanks have perhaps, unsurprisingly, fallen.

“The Trust is once again appealing to all Bluebirds fans to donate whatever they can  – whether it is a single tin, a  jar of food or a bag of items. Anything supporters can give will be gratefully received by those running the foodbank.”

Fellow board member Mike Spear said: “Cardiff City fans are known for their generosity, shown in recent times by the bucket collections for the Ukraine and Jason Bowen appeals and we are sure they will come up trumps again and help support people on the breadline.

“The Trust is very grateful for the continuing support from Cardiff City Football Club, its staff and players.”

Here is a list of food items most urgently needed by the foodbank: sugar, coffee, UHT milk. juice, tinned fruit, rice pudding. tinned stewed steak, tinned corned beef. tinned mince and onion, jam, squash, Smash, tinned spaghetti, tinned tomatoes, tinned vegetables, cat and dog food, Size 5, Size 5+, Size 6 & Size 7 Nappies/Pull-ups and crisps. No perishable food, please.

Cash donations to the foodbank can also be made on the day. You can also donate online https://vale.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money. The foodbank’s charity number is 1193005.

 

Trust Chair’s Analysis Of Cardiff City’s Latest Accounts

Keith Morgan, Trust Chair

Trust Chair Keith Morgan, a football finance expert, comments on the latest Cardiff City FC (Holdings) Ltd accounts for the year ended May 31, 2022.

The accounts were signed off by Chair Mehmet Dalman on February 24, 2023 and the accompanying group strategic report by CEO Ken Choo on the same date. The audit report was signed off by auditors BDO on  February 28, 2023.

Summary

The accounts show an operating loss for the year of £28.9m (2021 £12.1m) and a loss after tax of £26.6m (2021 £12.0m).

As a consequence of the above losses and other adjusting transactions the balance sheet deficit as at May 31, 2022 rose from £36m as at May 31, 2021 to £56m.

Profit and loss account

Turnover fell dramatically in the year from £55.2m in 2020-21 to £20.0m as a consequence of losing income from “parachute payments” and despite an increase of £3.5m in gate receipts in the post-Covid pandemic period.

Efforts were clearly made to reduce operating costs to try and offset at least part of the loss of income with player salaries down by approximately £4m although it should be noted that the majority of player salary savings would have occurred after the balance sheet date with 11 players whose contracts had expired coming off the payroll in June 2022. The 14 players brought in to replace them (and 3 other loan signings) were at significantly lower salary cost.

Administration costs were down by £11.4m from £30.9m to £19.5m. This was principally due to a reduction in the cost of amortising (depreciating) and making an impairment provision for the playing squad where this cost reduced by £11m compared to 2020/21. There was a profit on player sales of £4.2m (2021 £2.9m).

Interest payable in the year of £2.4m was slightly up on the 2021 figure of £1.9m

Directors` remuneration was down significantly to £143k (2021 £550k) with the highest-paid director paid £121k (2021 £413k).  The reduction is almost certainly as a result of the CEO Ken Choo moving to a part-time role at the club.

Balance sheet

The value of the playing squad as at May 31, 2022 had been written down to £2.5m from a value at the previous year end of £10.5m. Player addition costs in the year were only £1m with players originally costing over £14m leaving the club at a profit of £4.2m compared to their written-down value.

The club`s stadium asset stood in the accounts at £76.7m.

As at May 31, 2022 a total of £7.7m was due to the club, including £4.6m of football receivables

The main liabilities in the May 2022 balance sheet were amounts of £73m due to Vincent Tan and his family and £20.8m due to Tormen Finance, a company in which Mehmet Dalman has a significant interest – this loan carries interest at 9%. This amounted to £93.8m of total debts due of £123.4m (up from £113.4m in 2021). The balance of debts due included £12m of accruals (including season ticket money received in advance), transfer fee installments payable of £2.6m and the remaining balance of an EFL pandemic support loan of £5.5m.

There continues to be full provision in the accounts at £20.7m for settlement of the Emiliano Sala dispute with FC Nantes, as has been the case since 2019.

There are important matters to note in respect of the debt due to Vincent Tan

a There were new loans of £19.8m made by him in the year, with repayments to him and his family of only £1.1m

b In the year he converted £6.6m of debt due to him into shares

c Just after the year end, in June 2022 he converted a further £19m of debt into shares

d Of the total due to Vincent Tan £51.2m carries interest at 7% and rights to convert into shares. The rest carries no interest and has no conversion rights. Interest payable has always historically been waived by Vincent Tan.

Contingent liabilities

The Companies Acts require companies to disclose material liabilities which might arise in future, dependent upon certain events occurring. In the balance sheet notes is a disclosure of a potential liability of £4.9m relating to player contracts. The notes state that such events will probably not occur so no provision is needed for this in the balance sheet.

Related party transactions

In the year consultancy fees were paid to WMG Group in respect of the services of Mehmet Dalman and £1.7m was paid in loan interest to Tormen Finance.

Post balance sheet events

Some significant events have occurred between the May 31, 2022 balance sheet date and the date the accounts were signed off by the directors on February 24, 2023 which are noted in the accounts

a As noted above, Vincent Tan converted a further £19m of debt into shares

b Further loans of £24.4m were made to the club at 9% interest by an unnamed party

c New players were acquired at a cost of £5.4m

d Legal actions regarding the Emiliano Sala case are ongoing

Other matters

The directors’ reports accompanying the accounts reveal two other important points

a The club is negotiating with the EFL to have the current transfer embargo under EFL rule 52.6 fully lifted.

b Plans are progressing for the construction of a new training facility for sole use of the club first team to be held under a 150-year lease with the aim of completion in time for the 2025-26 season. This is not the same facility currently being developed in Llanrumney for the club to utilise for its Academy teams

 

 

 

 

Quiz In Aid Of Guide Dogs For The Blind

Our friends at CCFC Disabled Supporters’ Association (DSA) have organised a fun quiz later this month to raise funds for Guide Dogs for the Blind.

The event takes place at the Cardiff City Stadium (Level 4) on Wednesday, March 29th, at 7pm with the Trust supporting the quiz by providing the quizmaster and questions as well as taking part.

Some of the club’s former players have also agreed to put up a team for the quiz.

This fundraiser is of special interest to many of the DSA’s members and also to one of the club’s directors, Steve Borley. Cardiff’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Graham Hinchey, will be attending to support the event. Guide Dogs Cymru is the Lord Mayor’s charity for 2022-23.

·         Every hour, another person in the UK goes blind.

·         180,000 people with sight loss rarely leave home alone.

·         Almost two million people in the UK are living with sight loss. By 2050,there could be nearly four million.

Entry is £3 per person or £20 a team with all money going to Guide Dogs. Teams of up to 8 per table are allowed. A raffle will be held on the night with some great prizes. Bookings can be made by emailing ccfcdsa@gmail.com.

We hope Trust members will be able to support this worthwhile fundraiser.

Trust Chair’s Briefing On Football White Paper

Keith Morgan, Trust Chair

Trust Chair Keith Morgan lays down the key issues in the UK Government White Paper on the future of football.

In November last year, we updated Trust members with the contents of a Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) report setting out Government progress over the first year since the initial report was created in getting the report into legislation via a White Paper. That White Paper, after some delays, was finally published today.

Set out below is a brief comparison of the “one-year on” review with the White Paper contents. The bold type is the contents of the FSA report together with Government initial reaction to it. Underneath is set out how the White Paper deals with each point:

  1. a) Creation of an Independent Regulator of English football-recommendation accepted
  2. b) The IREF to oversee financial regulation in football- accepted
  3. c) New strengthened owners and directors test – accepted
  4. d) A new approach to corporate governance – accepted
  5. e) To improve diversity, equality and inclusion in clubs -accepted need to support clubs in implementing this
  6. f) Supporters to be properly consulted by clubs in making key decisions by the formation of Fans Advisory Boards – supported with details of mechanism to follow
  7. g) Additional protection for assets of key club heritage (stadium, colours, name etc.) – supported with details to follow
  8. h) Fairer distribution of funding in football – supported (football authorities to implement ahead of White Paper
  9. i) Women`s football to be treated with parity and be subject to a separate review – accepted
  10. j) To carry out an urgent review of support for footballers leaving the game – supported but as a matter for the football authorities 

Sports Minister Stuart Andrew started his address to Parliament at 12 noon today and finished at 12.50. The main points of interest were as follows:

  1. He was effectively told off by the Deputy Speaker for giving a briefing to the media yesterday with an embargo until last night before he addressed Parliament.
  2. He was highly critical of the football authorities for not putting their own house in order, leading to the need for the Fans Led Review.
  3. Cardiff City was specifically mentioned as an example of bad practice by owners for changing the club colours and badge without proper consultation and consent of the fanbase.
  4. He gave a figure of £6bn as being the current level of net debt across the Premier League and EFL clubs.
  5. He confirmed that the following issues are in the White Paper taken direct from the Fans Led Review
  1. The appointment of Independent Regulator of English Football (IREF) and an interim one to push things along until it happens.
  2. A greatly strengthened owners and directors test.
  3. Fans to have a greater involvement in all major club decisions.
  4. A ban on clubs joining new invitational leagues such as the European Super League.
  5. The IREF will have “fallback” powers over the distribution of cash between the leagues if the PL and EFL don`t change things themselves in the near future.

MPs speaking in response all gave their support to the White Paper and pressed for its implementation ASAP.

It will probably not be fully debated in Parliament until the Autumn 2023 session and then be brought into law in time for the 2024-25 season.

There will be a 12-week consultation period in which the Trust will be invited to contribute.

Keith Morgan said: “The Trust is very pleased to see the long awaited White Paper published because it will mean radical changes to the way football is run and lead to far greater involvement of fans in their clubs which is long overdue.”

 

Jason Bowen Bucket Collection: Can You Help?

The Trust is supporting a bucket collection before the Reading game this Friday in aid of former City stalwart Jason Bowen who has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease.

The money raised will be used to support the ongoing cost of Jason’s treatment.

Cardiff City is looking for volunteers to assist with the collection. If you would like to help out, please meet at the Fred Keenor Statue at 6pm.

Alternatively, contributions can be made directly to Jason’s GoFundMe page a link to which can be found below:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/jason-bowens-motor-neurone-disease-treatment