Sligo Rovers have revealed a number of benefactors have stepped up to help the club financially following almost two months without a home league game.
A statement from the club thanked ‘supporters and friends’, who made donations and contributions in excess of €35,000 to help address financial challenges presented by the long period with minimal income from gate receipts.
Rovers’ home game against Bohemians this coming Saturday will be their first league match in the Showgrounds since a Tuesday night game in mid-August.
They did host Falkirk in a Scottish Challenge Cup tie during September, but that game attracted less than 1,000 supporters, and the income from gate receipts was split between the clubs.
The statement said that: “To date, donations and contributions amounting to in excess of €35,000 have been given to the club by benefactors and committee members.”
“(The club) acknowledges and is very appreciative of the financial assistance being received at present to help address current financial challenges.
“Supporters and friends are showing again what Sligo Rovers means as the battle to retain Premier Division status continues against the backdrop of the unique calendar situation that made cashflow a major issue.
“To date donations and contributions amounting to in excess of €35,000 have been given to the club by benefactors and committee members.
“The club is also very grateful to supporter groups including the Dublin supporters and the Bit O’ Red Trust for organising various fundraising initiatives.”
A race night was held by the Dublin Supporters Club last Thursday raising €5,000.
Manager Gerard Lyttle attended along with several committee members and dozens of Rovers fans in the capital.
Meanwhile, the Bit O’ Red Supporters Trust are running a Kube event in November in the Clayton Hotel in Sligo.
The Trust have also suggested that season ticket holders that wish to contribute, voluntarily waive their tickets for one or both of the last two home games and instead pay at the gate.
A post on their Facebook page read: “As we know it will be over seven weeks since our last home league game when we face Bohs next Saturday, so there was been no gate income to the club in that time.
“At the last Trust meeting it was agreed that we needed to do something in the short term to try and help.
“So what we are suggesting is with only two games left could season ticket holders pay in at the gate.
“It’s up to each individual to decide. It’s just our suggestion to try and help the club out. Come on the Bit O’ Red.”
The final home game is against Derry City in a fortnight’s time.
The statement from the Rovers committee also said strengthening the squad in the transfer window was crucial to giving Rovers a fighting chance of staying in the top flight.
“The funding is vital having regard to the financial demands on the club at present. These include in particular provision for strengthening of the squad which took place during the transfer window. Furthermore while the development of the underage structure is a very positive development for the future with three teams being run, it has placed significant extra financial demands and when a period of two months without gate receipts emerges, it presents challenges.”
“The club wants to thank all those who have contributed so generously to date. Further donations and contributions will be gratefully received to enable Rovers deal with current demands and strengthen for the future.”
Saturday’s game kicks-off in the Showgrounds at 7.45pm.
