Smurthwaite: Vale cost me £1m this season
Club owner Norman Smurthwaite has tweeted that he will have personally paid out £1m to the football club this season.
I have stated on several occasions that I will have paid in £1m in this season…
Smurthwaite’s financial commitment this season is laudable, but the owner is keen to stress that this amount will not be invested in the club next season.
A tweet from Smurthwaite stated: “I have stated on several occasions that I will have paid in £1m in this season… This will not be repeated in 14/15.”
Some of Smurthwaite’s funds will have been used for essential projects that were left incomplete or not started by previous boards. These include work on the Vale Park pitch, upgrading the turnstyles to a cashless system, the initial work on the Lorne Street stand, improving the club shop (and opening a new outlet in the Potteries centre) and the introduction of a Development squad at the club.
While some fans may be dismayed at Smurthwaite’s comments that such spending will not be repeated next season, other fans, perhaps conscious of the club’s two spells in administration will be happy that the new owner appears determined for the club to live sensibly within its means.