Q1. Bernard let's start with your position at the club, there were rumours of you returning as chairman is that correct?

From the meeting we had, it was discussed as to whether I should I come back as chairman to ensure future investors and sponsors of my support and backing. Also from the business report we had commissioned it was suggested I should front the club. However I have been more than happy as to how the club is progressing and the developments it has made, we now have a good structure in place and so far it is working reasonably well, still I must say with limited people on board but we have turned a number of things around and that has been hard work. To be named chairman would only be a name as those who know me, recognise why I do it, so I don't really have to be named chairman for the club to continue to develop, most of the major decisions still pass by me anyway and it leaves me with less documents that are sent to a chairman to read and answer!

Q2. The board meeting you're referring to was mentioned as one of the most important meetings for a while, can you explain why?

It was not a board meeting as such, we only have 2 directors! but an important meeting did take place as to what happens to the direction and future of the club and its personnel. We needed for the benefit of all concerned to come from the meeting with some answers and time wise it needs to be done before the end of the season. What is often not seen, are the quiet investors who keep the club alive and their involvement and investment had to be looked at and recognised, after all we have used it and are obligated to try and provide them with a return in different ways. We also had to focus on how it would run in the future and how best we could turn it into a business with the added attractions we have, in order to persuade others to join. We have had the meeting and I have to say it was a very positive meeting in respect to the way forward and how we would approach the overall running of the club, we are all more than comfortable with the outcome. Despite some unkind rumours being spread that we were to fold and no club would be in Radcliffe, it just goes to show those individuals spreading the rumours really are totally unaware of what happens at a football club, have a complete lack of knowledge at this level and in fairness have made themselves to look rather silly without knowing the full facts or what is happening, in fact it is the total opposite at this moment in time.

Running a football club is a thankless task and until people become a part of the process, they do not fully understand and realise just how much time it takes away from your family and the hard work it takes to keep a club at this level or indeed any level, having said that I really do believe the vast majority of our supporters are understanding and respectful of the work in progress at the club, especially those who have been watching for a number of years that have seen the vast changes. We have tried to follow the business report in terms of procedures and planning etc and we hope it will lead us to brighter times on and off the pitch but it will be hard work, certainly no one can take away the work that has been put into the past 15-20 years and everyone involved over those years can be proud of themselves and hold their heads up high in what has been achieved so far; let's see if we can move it on again now. 

Q3. Who completed the report on the club and what are the most significant areas?

The report was completed by Roger Reade who has both professional football and business experience, he was brought in and spent some time with us over the back end of the season for about 4-5 weeks and looked at all the three companies also the playing side, how we function, at the procedures and systems in place, It was very interesting to see an 'outsider' come in and give you an honest view, you tend to forget what we really excel at and what areas we should focus on more in our quest to become self sufficient. It was a full in depth report that was both interesting, enlightening and certainly very comprehensive I would like to thank Roger for the excellent report he has provided for us. The significant areas are too many to mention although some are obviously related to finance. We can implement a lot of the suggestions and we have, some however will require finance and man power and this will have to be looked at in the future. It certainly has helped us focus and we are using it as a working document as we progress.

Q4. Does the document allow for further increased team finances this year?

A simple and straight answer will be no, In fact we may have to look at reducing it by 10% this will only be known after the pre-season. We have to ensure we stick to what we have set out to do even before we commissioned the report and that was having a negative balance in relation to creditors across all three companies. We have worked hard over the past 15 months towards this and will continue to do so this season, I know that is not the answer supporters would like to hear but I am sure they appreciate and understand the direction taken. it will be another twelve months hard work, who knows after that we may find ourselves in a far better position to invest in the team.

Q5. What did you think of the teams' and management performance last season? 

I think what we achieved last season was excellent especially with our resources, as I stated last time without looking at results and our finish, first look at some of the football we have produced from December onwards, some of our football played was great to watch and some of the younger players have grown up. We finished in 10th position, at one stage people thinking we were close to the play-offs and that 10th place finish was without a strong finish in the last 5-6 games, another 2-3 wins in those games could have seen us finish in 7^th place, but we we looked dead on our feet and you have to say we have achieved this with a much younger side than we have had for a long time. Those youngsters need time and it may not always work out but we have to trust in the management team.

The management team have never complained about the resources or what they don't have they just get on with the job, they are a part of the progress the club has to make and they have some areas to look at from the report which may not be easy for them. They are very professional. well respected and we are delighted they are with us. We cannot make the progress without them as they are integral to a lot of the key factors in the report.

Q6. Was it true we failed the ground grading and in danger of being relegated?

It was true, we had to contact the Football Association and Evo-stick league luckily common sense prevailed. We had to have two cubicles' in the ladies toilets and only had one after the wrong delivery, also the bottom end of the ground needed addressing and we have done this by bringing the boundary wall in closer to eradicate the problem, it is fair to say one or two other minor areas were completed but it shows how hard it is becoming to keep pace, especially as we feel we have some of the best facilities in the league and I am sure many clubs will be surprised at the situation we found ourselves in.

Q7. The new boundary wall has made the ground look very tidy at that end?

It was a difficult large area to keep on top of in terms of keeping it up to standard and inside the ground grading requirements, now it has been completed the league are happy with our own development. We need to keep upgrading the ground and we are trying to form a development project group, which has been advertised to help us move forward and be 'ahead of the game' in this area.

Q8. The official club forum now seems in order and a new website is being planned?

I think everyone is much more relaxed at the club now and the club is no longer washing its 'dirty linen' in public. I have occasionally looked at the forum and it seems to be getting busier. We have had many, many requests to join but they will not provide the details we require so we know our site is frequently visited. It has seen less negativity and those who have registered do I believe have the club at heart,  We are not saying everything posted has to be positive, if it has not been a good performance or there are questions regarding the running of the club people are entitled  to say so, but let it be in a constructive and radical manner.  As I said last time forums are seen by all supporters and discussion can be healthy, but we will not give an opportunity and platform for individuals to pull the football club apart or the playing side of the club to pieces on our own official site it would have been madness for it to continue, what kind of image is that portraying to other supporters, our own supporters, potential new supporters, potential and current sponsors, players, players families and more. It simply was not acceptable and won't happen again. I have never read the unofficial forum and I have no intention of ever doing so. If people want to put the effort into that then that is their choice. The new website is being produced and It is something we want to work on, it is the first thing people see when searching for the club and a professional site portrays a professional club, although I know it is really hard work and time consuming to keep it up to date and informative. We fully appreciate the time and efforts of those who work on behalf of the club and Sponsorlink.

Q9. The supporters club seems to have ended what are your thoughts on this?

I could and will repeat some of my comments word for word last time I was asked. It is a shame, but not a surprise. When it first started both Dave (Greenough) and Graham (Evans) developed such a vibrant supporters club and in all honesty was probably the most successful supporters club around at that time and financially it supported the club in different important projects which is how it should be, if supporters don't want monies raised to be reinvested in the club for facilities, running of the club etc goodness me ,what are they supporting the club for; without a football club there is nothing to support anyway, true supporters would grasp this and recognise this is how it should always be.

I do believe the problems we had in the early part of last season, the season before that and the negativity I spoke about that had slowly developed had not helped and it did see more of a ' them and us' scenario which was not in place at the beginning thankfully now we are working towards that scenario again, but it did lead to an atmosphere and without the full club support, a supporters club does not progress as it should be which is 'a partnership'. We have now looked at the situation and created three working groups which we hope supporters will join and feel a part of. We have a lot of good supporters out there who have been loyal and bar a couple of seasons I mentioned the vast, vast majority have been understanding and supportive, I certainly feel the atmosphere has definitely changed at the club – which the players noticed and commented on -   and we as a club will respond to that change.  The three groups we would like to organise are 1) Development Project 2) Lucky 7 Project 3) Awareness Project, this would allow smaller working groups who could have such an impact in the club and its future without all the politics involved and is a genuine club / supporter partnership. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Dave Greenough for the donation from the supporters to the planning application fee and the new sponsors lounge the contribution has been a huge help and our thanks to everyone concerned for the donation.

Q10. Hopes for the coming season?

Without being negative whilst we are working towards our goal, with my head it is to keep in the division we are, that may seem a lack of ambition but as I said we have a clear idea of how and what we need to do this season. With my heart we finished in tenth place last season and anything above that would be great. Another good cup run would make such a difference to us financially. Also I would like to see the continuation of a clearer understanding from supporters of what we are trying to do for the club and distance themselves from those who only want to destroy what over the past 10-15 years has been a club respected by everyone on the non-league scene. Finally for the club its players and supporters to unite in taking us another step forward.