Dorking Wandering
The Dorking Wanderers FC Fans Forum
What we have learned so far:
- Take Profit Trader, a leading trading education and funding business have made an investment in DWFC (bought shares);
- The consortium will be represented in the UK by Daryl Cumberland, who will work closely with the club’s Senior Committee;
- Entrepreneur James Sixsmith, a former professional ice hockey player is founder and CEO of Take Profit Trader.
Daryl was at the Weston away game on the last day of the regular season, and these are apparently serious investors, who are keen on improving stadium infrastructure amongst their plans.
Can anyone shed any further light on the scale of their plans, their strategy or investment priorities at the club? Clubs at this level can be a money pit if you aren't careful!
Obviously the club has genuine ambitions to reach the EFL one day, there are a lot of stages to achieve such a big achievement as that, on and off the field. We've seen Crawley, Sutton United and now Bromley do that over recent years, but it takes a huge effort to do.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
I did kind of understand the point that Marc was trying to make on the owners video when he alluded to the team being complete now. It has always been the case that the club will welcome anyone who can genuinely add something to the club whether that is financial investment, or volunteering at the ground at the most obvious level on matchdays. Everyone has always been encouraged to bring what they can to the club and it has never been a case that Marc would say this is my toy only.
Even back to the days of Westhumble it has been stressed that DWFC is a community project, I have seen that myself on historic planning applications from many years ago when the club had to really push hard for basic but necessary improvements. Every little bit of progress was fought for and worked hard for.
I have long said we are so lucky to have this club on our doorstep, you don't realise how lucky until you see other clubs and what those other clubs, as historic as they may be, but without the real community we have, the drive and the ambition that DWFC has. This club is relentless, just being in any division is never enough, it's always about what can we improve next, do better, finish higher. Without that in such a competitive world as pyramid football, the town would be lucky to have a small also ran club. It is very reasuring to hear that the intentions of these two new co-owners are for nothing but progress and striving to achieve further success.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Indeed. However, they are currently searching for property in the Dorking area...
Blimey, they must be loaded then. If they're lucky they'll get a semi-detached for half a million quid (only kidding!) 🤣
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
c.20%: Large investors (Lee Whittingham, Kristian Lea, Supporters Sports Ventures, and Frank Villares pre‑deal);
C.3-5%: Mid/small investors and fans.
How do you make a small fortune from owning a football club?
Start with a big one!
Change is never easy, but these two seem keen, and for that they are most welcome. I can't imagine they know a huge amount about regional non-league English football, but maybe they have a positive contribution to make in terms of the fan experience - Debra seems quite observant about the neat and tidyness of the ground for example, yet the ground is pretty basic and not particularly well laid out - two sides without any roof cover, a whole long side without stepped standing. It's not good enough for the current level let alone the one above if we are being brutally frank.
Debra seems to be the more enthusiastic one in the published interviews, Frank a lot more laid back. he club is so young relative to most other clubs at our level that people can really put a stamp on the direction the club takes. I hope that they can attend lots of games, particularly away ones, look at what other clubs have and how other clubs do things, and bring the best of that to our club and our ground. There is nothing wrong with finding room for improvement and then taking steps to achieve it. They can really bring something positive here, the American fan experience can teach our country a thing or two.
Great stuff AdeB. If they are excited for the journey and want to help our club welcome on board!
Just to clarify I wasn’t for one minute suggesting Marc needed to hand over the reins, just he probably understands he needs further investment and other people on board to take the club to the next level.
Good research in your previous post Matty. I agree that new investment is welcome to help progress the club to higher levels. However, i certainly would like Marc to keep overall majority control. We had American owners for a while at Crawley, and although they did okay and had some good ideas, some of their ideas did not work in the UK and they did annoy a lot of fans at times.
I will be interested to know the size of the investment. Is it significant (i.e. more than 10%, or less than this). Also will Daryl Cumberland become a director? We will have to wait and see if more information is forthcoming.
I also note that the company accounts need to be sent to Companies House by 26 May. The confirmation statement of shareholders is already late and should have been sent by 11 April. This is normally a short statement confirming ownership (Crawley Town's is 5 pages), but with so many shareholders, Dorking's last year ran to 38 pages! Probably why late.
I note that the Company's year end has been moved back to 26 May. This is an accounting tactic often used if you need more time to do the accounts. They now don't need to be submitted until 26 August.
However, i certainly would like Marc to keep overall majority control.
That won't change - ever, I'd say
