Bracknell Town chairman Kayne Steinborn-Busse admits the lack of football at Larges Lane is proving “devastating” to his club’s finances and sadly there looks little chance of the position improving.
The best-supported side in the South Central Division with attendances of more than 250 have not played an Isthmian League fixture since October due to the pandemic, and there are fears the season will be declared null and avoid.
“Financially, it has been a devastating 12 months for the club, certainly the worst in the five years I have been here,” the Robins’ chairman revealed.
“We have lost so much turnover, not from our own games but from the many other matches, like the local cup finals that are played here towards the end of the season which generate a lot of business for the club.
“It has been a horrendous year. We have been shut for six or seven months and for any business that is incredibly painful. People who owe us vast sums of money have gone out of business in the last 12 months which is very unfortunate.
“I really think this (the pandemic) will have a massive effect on a lot of football clubs, in fact, a lot of clubs across the board, just not football. It is devastating. But we have to get on with it and make the right decisions to make sure this football club can be around for another 100 years.”
Grants are being made available to sports clubs and Steinborn-Busse – who revealed his own Covid battle last week – says Bracknell “would go after them.”
The club currently more than 20 of their staff on furlough.
Related: Confirmation Bracknell Town are leaving Larges Lane
One positive to come out of the truncated season is that Bracknell Town collected £8,700 from the FA following their run in the Buildbase FA Trophy which saw them reach the second round before being beaten 3-2 by National League South side Havant & Waterlooville.
Robins’ boss added: “That’s the furthest this club has ever gone in the Trophy, so that was one positive to come out of this season.”
Havant & Waterlooville went on to reach the fifth round before losing 3-2 on penalties to Notts County last Saturday.
