COBBLERS: Club feeling the pinch
David Cardoza has told the Chron that the financial situation at the Cobblers has worsened over the past 12 months.
The club are starting to feel the pinch of last season's relegation, with attendance figures lower than expected and – crucially – lower than what was budgeted for.
Gates at Sixfields are currently at an average of 4,150, well down on last year's average of 5,200, while the recession has also taken a bite out of sponsorship and hospitality revenues.
A poor start to the current Coca-Cola League Two campaign has done nothing to tempt the people of Northampton through the turnstiles, and the absence of any 'big name opposition' has also hit the club hard.
Last term saw the club watched by 6,000-plus crowds on three occasions, for the visits of Leicester City, Leeds United and Peterborough.
The FA Cup second-round game against Southampton a week on Saturday should see an attendance figure at that level, but for league games there remains plenty of empty seats.
All of which is a concern for Cardoza, who reduced costs around the club following the relegation but who is still facing the prospect of another loss-making year.
"The situation is worse than last year, and that's almost entirely down to the fact that we're only getting 4,000 people at every game," he said.
"We downgraded the budget over the summer but the gates have been lower than we expected, and what the budget is in line with. That is a concern for us, which is why we need to maximise revenue wherever we can."
One way the club has done this is by assigning Southampton supporters both the south and east stands for the forthcoming cup tie.
"It was done purely for financial reasons," he said. "The season-ticket holders we've spoken to have been totally understanding."
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