Our chief executive Jason Turner has provided an update on the ongoing running of the club amid the coronavirus pandemic.
First and foremost, I hope our supporters and their loved ones are keeping safe and well as we continue our collective battle against a virus which has immeasurably changed the way we are all currently living.
As is the case for all clubs, and particularly those further down the pyramid, Covid-19 has and will continue to have a significant financial impact. The board have held numerous conversations over the past week, with decisions being taken as we look for the best possible way to safely navigate Notts County through these unprecedented times.
As our supporters will know from our previous updates, Meadow Lane has now been closed for the past two weeks with all employees, other than those with an essential need to carry out their roles on-site, working remotely.
However, having kept a close eye on government updates and advice it is unlikely that we will return to Meadow Lane in the very near future, so we have now taken the decision to furlough a number of our administrative and football staff under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
Our considerate owners, Chris and Alex Reedtz, will ensure that all furloughed staff receive their full salary, so nobody will be out of pocket during this time. I’m sure this gesture will be hugely appreciated, particularly as many of our staff are now experiencing their second successive spring/summer of uncertainty following the well-documented events which preceded the Reedtz brothers' takeover last year.
Having spoken to all staff affected by these temporary arrangements, they are fully supportive and understand why this decision has been taken and all look forward to returning to their jobs at the earliest opportunity.
Our playing staff are as yet unaffected and will continue to keep themselves fit in line with social distancing guidelines with a view to returning to training in the best possible condition when it’s safe to do so.
While we eagerly await the time for us to resume our normal working routine, a small number of employees across all departments will continue to perform their roles remotely, and in some cases on-site, to ensure the club is able to operate and communicate as best it can.
We have received several messages from supporters asking how they can help us at this challenging time and, while we are sure the financial security of the club will not be compromised, we appreciate the sentiment and are working on initiatives which will enable them to do so.
For now, I’d encourage all supporters who have not yet signed up to Lifeline to please do so. The popular scheme, which gives you an opportunity to win cash and other prizes while supporting the club with £2 a week, will continue to operate as normal and it would be brilliant to see us close in on the maximum membership of 2,500.
Our online shop, which you can browse here, also remains open for business. While orders may take a little longer to process, we are dispatching on a weekly basis.
On a final note, we have already received more than 200 nominations for supporters deserving of a phone call following our appeal on Saturday. The response has been staggering and we’re working through them as quickly as we can.
I hope this update has provided you all with some assurances that the club has a clear vision for how we move forward on an operational basis.
We remain in close contact with the football authorities with regards to the completion of the 2019-20 season and will provide further updates on this subject, further to this one published recently, as and when appropriate.
Stay at home, stay safe and I hope to see you soon.
Jason
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