I assume that the £350,000 in the next month figure is to get passed the Championship AGM or whatever 'meeting' they have. It seems a huge target, comparatively speaking, for a club with fewer than 500 season ticket holders. I think more membership packages could have been released, too, and am surprised that there hasn't been any more released.
There's a fair few other options to raise some funds. They'll not raise £350,000 and certainly not in a month but some initiatives that could be used.
Sponsorship of equipment - a non-league team that I follow used this a few years ago. They got a range of matchday equipment and then auctioned it off as sponsorship. The winners got recognition online, a hand signed letter from the first team manager and there was a specific matchday where the auction winners got some minor hospitality - a free burger, some free drinks in the boardroom, tours, meet the players etc. I was the proud sponsor of the subs' bibs that season, my Dad sponsored the water bottles. I'm sure there was one item for auction for each day of the month.
More Membership Types - As I say, I expected more options available. I assumed that a hospitality membership would be released, a membership for the 'Broncos Bar', a membership for non-match attending fans/exiles, a player sponsorship membership package, a 3-5-7 game ticket package, an SW19 residents package.
Player Sponsorship - has it been released? I know there's three players signed up but surely there's options that can be released? The club names a 21-man squad 48 hours before a game and while I've never counted, I assume 21 complete the warm-up. A friend has got into Ice Hockey and is part of an "Own and Loan" initiative. He paid x amount (I don't know the figure) and he 'owns' a player's shirt and 'loans' it to the player for the season. At the end of the season there is a function on, where he's invited, gets his shirt handed over from the player who has worn it all year and gets the shirt signed and pictures sent to him a few weeks later. While it's hard to do right now as the squad hasn't been assembled, there's going to be 21 warm-up tops every week. Do that with them. Print the name of the owner on the back and at the last home game, have the players hand over a signed warm-up top with their name on, to the fan who has sponsored it.
"Buy a Try" - It's a rubbish name, I know. It's one I do with the non-league team I follow. I did it last year and offered up £1 for each league win and 50p per league goal. I ended up giving the club £22 (it wasn't a good season!) and I've not even got up to £10 this year, either. Others I know pick a player and donate a sum based on goals scored by that player, one person does £10 per penalty scored. I appreciate tries are more common but it could be done.
The problems I acknowledge with the above are that you are stretching your fanbase thin and asking a lot of them, especially financially.
As an aside, do the LBSA have any finances or do anything? I know Bradford Bulls had/have the Bullbuilder that sets aside money that is used for signings, I've heard of similar in football, is that something that could be utilised? I feel a bit uneasy with it being for short-term signings but would be more supportive if it was used to fund the pathways.
