No News On Conference Sponsorship

Last updated : 05 July 2013 By The Stray Shots

The money worries look set to continue for Aldershot Town as they prepare for life in the Conference after it was announced that the league have been unable to secure an official sponsor for the 2013-14 season.

The failure to attract big company interest is thought to cause clubs to miss out on around £20,000 in sponsorship money – a fair chunk for a struggling club such as The Shots.

Speaking to BBC Lincolnshire, Conference General Manager Dennis Strudwick said:  "We are working hard but without success.

"We believe there is somebody who will do it, but I have to be honest we don't have it on the hook just yet."

With former sponsor Blue Square Bet deciding not to renew their contract at the end of their six-year deal the news will come as a big blow to the member clubs, however Strudwick remained hopeful about attracting new backers.

"At the moment we do not have a title sponsor," he added. "But we hope the television deal with BT Sport will be a bit of a carrot to a potential sponsor.

"Financially it affects the clubs an awful lot. With Premier Division clubs you could be talking about £20,000 [a season].

"I am guessing on £20,000, because I don't know what size of sponsorship we may or may not be able to attract. But that is a considerable sum of money.

"It's a smaller amount of around £7,500-10,000 [for Conference North and South clubs] but that is still significant.

"The hard nose aspect is that clubs shouldn't be relying on money other people should raise - they have to be living within their means.

"But the Conference board acknowledges its responsibility to use its resources to attract funding and over a period of about 20 years that has been very, very successful."