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Calculated risk NEW Cherries signing Stephen Cooke would have been playing for another club next season – had it not been for Playershare’s calculated risk.
The innovative scheme, which has been instrumental in every signing for Cherries over the past three seasons, has had to pledge money that they don’t actually own for the first time in its existence to ensure Cooke’s free transfer happened.
While Playershare have stepped in to help Sean O’Driscoll’s recruitment on numerous occasions, it is a bold move by the directors that meant Cherries did not miss out on the former Aston Villa midfielder who would otherwise have walked away.
Playershare chairman Nick Douch told the Daily Echo: "This is the first time that we have committed money that we don’t actually have.
"In the past, unless we actually had the money in the bank or firmly pledged, we haven’t spent it.
"Some might see it as a risk that the directors have committed money that they haven’t actually got.
"But the shareholders of Playershare are a pretty remarkable bunch – whenever we really need the money, they always come up with it.
"So the directors took a decision that we can anticipate a certain amount of revenue coming in and have therefore made the arrangements to cover the transfer costs of the Stephen Cooke deal.
"The directors feel that the risk is an acceptable one.
"Had we not done this, I don’t think we would not have been able to sign Stephen."
Douch reserved special praise for the shareholders and supporters at Cherries who continue to dig deep to help with the players’ wages that allows Sean O’Driscoll’s side to mix it with the bigger spenders in League One.
Douch said: "Most of our money still comes from shareholders who are putting in sizeable amounts of money at fairly regular intervals.
"We have just over 50 shareholders and all of whom have donated a minimum of £1000.
"About three quarters of the money we receive comes in through the shareholders. It is incredible really. You can’t be confident of raising more money each year but the shareholders and the supporters never cease to amaze me with their generosity.
"Every year we have thought ‘how can we raise as much as we did last year?’
"You think there has to be a point where we can’t keep raising as much as the year before, but we haven’t met it yet.
"It shows how much they want this club to succeed. Playershare has become a vital part of the way Sean runs the team."
Other initiatives including the Playershare raffle, Playerpledge and Cherrychange have brought in some much-needed revenue. And Douch believes it will continue to provide O’Driscoll with more funds for strengthening the squad over the summer and beyond.
Douch said: "The Playershare raffle and the other fund-raisers are, of course, very helpful to the overall cause because that gives us a pretty regular income.
"Of course, you always want to see more money coming in so that it can be passed on to Sean to spend on players.
"We have had some great success with loan players last season and, depending on the new loan rules, we’re hopeful that will continue."
Douch, meanwhile, has faith that payments for the Cooke deal will not leave Playershare with an unmanageable debt.
He said: "We’re very comfortable with it.
"We’re not going to pledge money we don’t have on a regular basis, but I think we may do this when there is a good reason. Especially, if it means the difference between us signing a player and him signing for someone else.
"It is not a vast sum but we are confident we will bring in that amount to cover the payment required."
For more information on Playershare or to join the scheme, telephone Nick Douch on 01442 824 743 or email nick.douch@virgin.net.
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