Fans aim to boost transfer kitty
Supporters of fan-owned AFC Wimbledon have launched the We Are Wimbledon Fund with the aim of raising £400,000 a year to contribute towards the playing budget.
Representatives of the scheme were on hand before the Port Vale match to provide more information, including Direct Debit forms, and will be at future home games to encourage supporters to sign-up.
The scheme, which is endorsed by The Dons Trust, owners of AFC Wimbledon, has been worked on by a group led by long-term supporter Xavier Wiggins. It has involved around a dozen people, providing their expertise for free to get the scheme up and running ready for the summer transfer window.
Spokesman Kevin Rye said: “If you gave the equivalent of the cost of half a cup of coffee a day, that’s thirty pounds a month. Whatever you can give, be it £10, £50 or £100 a month or more, that money is guaranteed to go straight to Neal Ardley for the playing budget for the whole season. It really is that simple. If we had 1,000 direct debits at an average of £20 then the playing budget could be increased by £240,000.”
Football League salary capping rules allow for 100 per cent of donations to be spent on players providing you have the money (i.e. not just pledges), so the scheme will involve those wishing to be involved completing a simple direct form, meaning a regular stream of income.
Kevin Rye added: “We are very proud owners of our football club. What we have achieved, we have done so thanks to our own efforts, and we will always do so sustainably. However the fact remains that as a relatively small club we find it bit more difficult to compete when there are clubs with private owners able to up the playing budget by their own means. Once again, we are sure that Wimbledon fans will step up to the plate.”
and keep an eye out for the We are Wimbledon Fund website, which will be launched soon.@wearewimbledonFor more information, check Twitter