You'll have to excuse my ignorance as I'm basing my question and figures on what I've read on here and been told. I'm still curious as to where all the money went from last seasons prize money. Firstly can someone officially state what we received in total. From what I remember it was a pretty big sum and it was paid in instalments wasn't it? Happy to be educated on the matter but I've seen quite a number of people ask the same question and don't think I've ever seen an answer.

I did think it would be a catalyst to move us forward but it didn't really see an upturn in player recruitment standards so the money can't have gone there, if anything we went backwards in that department so where did the money go? Backroom equipment, staff? What makes it worse is we are now if rumours are true struggling to keep our head above water money wise so to go from winning 750k? To being skint I am curious as to where it all went, did we pay off debts, rent? Buy back shares from ex directors?

The club invested in a new web site, and a new computer system for the office

That is a logical spend if needed and may account for £10k, but doesn't answer Waddy's questions, isn't it about time someone from the club explained what is going on?

I couldn't agree more. I've not renewed any of my families season tickets. I was awaiting the summer bash fixture and maybe something positive from the club. Nothing has been forth coming so we will just pay on the gate this year.

The year before last we dinned 5 times and the club seemed engaged and on a flight path to something significant. Last year, performance poor, communication even worse, stand closures, unquashed rumours etc and the potential to not open south stand for some games and still no clear message from the club as to where money has gone etc. Needless to say we didn't dine once, even though the wife asked repeatedly I couldn't justify spending £150 for a few hours of a bite to eat and a game of poor rugby.

I really do fear for the club at this moment in time but without clear messages coming out from the club, my money is safer in my pocket.

Computer system! You can pick up a refurbished PC on-line for £80 a pop. Add to that, companies now offer dirt cheap productive software to run HR, payroll etc.
Plus the website and maintenance contract can be no more than a bucket collection.

I personally believe Abbotts departure has begun the collapse of the house of cards.

It's time for our directors to be honest with their support base. Don't alienate them, as there are no other supporters to replace them at this moment in time.

Paying directors loans back

In the past a number of directors have not asked for loans to be paid back. I believe that was the case with both the two gentleman who helped save the club at different times, Pierson and Posner, and other past directors like Harvey and Sweeney. I also understand that present directors Steele and Riley have written off amounts, which for them were relatively large against their personal wealth. In all cases that is admiarable, and as fans we should be thankful that they have given far more to the club than I could afford.

If other people have loaned the club money, and there must have been significant amounts given the accounts, with the intention of wanting the cash back in "better times", then that is also fine, we should thank them for doing so - given there was always a high chance of getting nothing back.

However, the club have a responsibility to fans to be more open on both the present predicament and where the income (£750k?) went if they don't wish to be criticised for producing what looks like a sub standard team in 2017.

Clubs do not receive the money as a lump sum but in 12 monthly installments, also income was reduced at the end of the season due to fall in crowd numbers when the team wasn't performing well and failed to reach middle 8's. This impinged on income.

Whilst the figure was £750k the club will have planned for a smaller figure so the cash being discussed is only the difference between the two sums. Potentially we are talking a couple of hundred thousand ( I know it sounds like a lot, and in my bank account it would be) but for the club it isn't. Also given the drop in gates this year some of the money would have been used to balance that out so all in all not a vast amount to play with.
New computers etc. Money to reserves and a larger, though in the end less competitive, squad and the bulk of it is gone.

All that is possible, but on the assumption they have paid less win bonuses, didn't really sign any big names, had increased new sponsers, sorted out te he rent debate, had a lower paying budget and crowd fall was only marginal the gap could be £300-£400k.

It is frankly useless speculation unless they tell us!

Stop Speculating then ! it is what it is. The club have spent/saved /paid back or whatever has needed to do.

To hazard a guess:-
If players were on performance bonuses for the previous season some of it may have gone there.
Larger squad plus reserves would have taken up quite a chunk.
Rent arrears?
Upgrades for office equipment as has been mentioned, along with maybe other expense like gym equipment that could soon add up.
Maybe one of the biggest things that may have got overlooked is that quite possibly the extra money meant that our directors did not have to dip in to their own pockets as much as they may have done in previous seasons?
I would be amazed if any of our current directors took any money back but if they did then it will probably show on the balance sheet and even if they did as has been said we should be grateful they were willing to put their own money in in the first place but I doubt its a case of them taking money back anyway.

Our directors backed our coaches vision of trying to make the club SL ready which would take a few years but last seasons under performance by playing and coaching staff has left the club in a bit of a mess and the only criticism I would lay with our directors was that maybe nobody said "what if?" what if we do not finish in the top 4? It was easy to get caught up in the hype though so who could blame them if that were the case? Our team looked unstoppable and you would have been hard pushed to find any fan of this league who did not predict us to finish in the top 4.

Pretty sure the figure we won was £670,000

It's a poor bloody do when Halifax RLFC'S ambition seems to be a top four finish in't 2nd division.

Top four finish next season? I think mid table at best and surviving the season will be an achievement regards communication we only get told something when the club want money or help

But any good business always has a plan b, c and d in place. The BoD should certainly have had one mid season when the results weren't going our way. It is a very difficult task running HRLFC and I don't envy them, but they have decided to do it.

I agree 100%.

Perhaps this is plan b or c.
We still have a second team.
If the board didn't have a option open for not finishing in the top four. I doubt the second team would have survived.
I agree with G. F. Boots in that the board probably for once didn't have to put their hands into their own pockets last season. And this season coming too.
They have stated before that they can't keep doing that. So maybe they are running the club on its own income.
We need to realise we are a decent championship side and nothing more.
And need to plan accordingly.

That's all well and good and may very well be where we are at the moment. But....where is the ambition? Are the board and fans happy with mediocrity? How long ago is it since we've been in SL or even had a decent cup run? I know the lack of a money man dosen't help but it's not the be all and end all, just look at Batley's achievements over the last few seasons. The negativity and lack of information from the board about OUR club isn't going to sell season tickets or merchandise that's for sure. I haven't renewed my season ticket due to changing the concession age but hopefully next season won't fizzle out like the last one did and I will attend all the games anyway. Any road let's hope we get off to a good start and all stand together backing Fax and hope the good times come back. Soon, Please! Up The Fax.

well said pete.

Good on yer Pete

hope to see you next season a couple of times.

Yep well said.The home kit launch is on the 16th nov, an event i normally enjoy but at the moment i'm really struggling for enthusiasm.

End of the day you have to have mone to move forward in this sport. Can't spend what we don't have.
Batley did superb in 2016 just like we did in 2015. But do you really think man for man they are far better team than us. They just had a good season.
Ambition - we still have the second team from which we have already benefited from.
The reality is we are a long way from SL standards. Without a big money man like the guy a Leigh there is little to no chance of returning to the top flight.

Well said.

To have ambition you need money in this sport and we do not have anyone who can set fire to say a million pounds, we do have people who dig very deep compared to their own wealth and probably over stretch themselves for our club. Would people rather take Fev's approach where we spend money that we have not got in the hope of something happening? If Fev would not have made the top 4 this season they would have been crippled financially, do we really want to go down that root and risk the future of the club?

No,just hope we are strong enough with what we have to challenge for the top 4.