We hope you are all keeping well and staying home to protect our community and our NHS.
We want to bring you up to date with some temporary changes at Exeter City and keep you as well informed as possible during these very difficult times, which have had a huge impact on all our lives.
With matches currently suspended for our teams and both St James Park and the Cliff Hill Training Ground closed except to essential staff, we have made some changes to how we operate. Playing staff have personalised training programmes to help them stay fit from their own homes, whilst a skeleton staff of employees continue to keep the business running as efficiently as possible to ensure the club continues to function in a way that will allow us to be ready when matches resume.
The majority of our staff have now been furloughed via the Government’s Job Retention Scheme. This step has been taken to protect the club and its employees and we are grateful that we have staff, players and supporters that understand the difficulties placed on the club in this current situation.
Both the Club and Trust Board continue to meet remotely, and extensive work is being undertaken to minimise cost, optimise cash flow, and to ensure that we are well placed when the football restarts. There are, of course, many unknowns at present, and all we can do is plan around various potential outcomes. These include football restarting at some point later this year, but also on the basis that it doesn’t. Predicted cash flow statements are being prepared on a weekly basis (short-term) but also looking at the impact of what is happening now over the longer term.
Please be assured we are in regular contact with the EFL regarding the completion of this season and will update you via the website as soon as we have information.
We recently took the decision to continue with our season ticket sales for 2020/21. If you have already renewed then please accept our sincere thanks; season tickets play a huge part in keeping our club financially stable, but equally we understand that these are uncertain times and you may not feel able to buy or renew yours. Click here for season ticket information.
As I’m sure you will have seen, our charity partners at Exeter CITY Community Trust are doing a fantastic job supporting our community, providing a lifeline to isolated and vulnerable people across Greater Exeter. Likewise, we should give high praise to our media team for the constant output of entertainment and information. Indeed, everybody at Exeter City is doing their bit to help us get through this very difficult period. Thanks to them all.
Many people have asked how they can donate to support the club during this challenging time and, while we are confident that we can manage through this period, we are grateful for contributions as cashflow is critical to our business. If you would like to donate, you can do so by clicking here. Thank you to the fans who have already donated.
At present, due to the pressures our team are under please, only make urgent enquiries to the club. If you have any other requirement to make contact feel free to use the Trust email address – enquiries@weownexetercityfc.co.uk. We’ll do our best to respond to you as quickly as possible, whether you are a Trust member or not.
Thank you so much for all of your support – we are the guardians of your club and we will do all we can to ensure we have a successful return to football when this challenging period comes to an end.
Additionally, we will always ensure the safety of all our staff, players and supporters is given the highest priority and we ask everyone to follow the government advice. Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
Julian Tagg, chair and director of football Exeter City Football Club
Nick Hawker, chair of Exeter City Supporters’ Trust