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 do love Frank's optimism, however in reality not many clubs do a Wrexham and win 3 consecutive promotions, from non league to the Championship
Even if you say it will take 5 years to reach league 2, a Sutton United type ascent, you still need to spend a small fortune on upgrading the physical assets of the club along the way
I hope that he is ready for the reality of a hard slog across 46 games in all weathers, where every other club wants to beat you, and where there is a new challenge around every corner!
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
To progress through the Leagues quickly from this level, you also have to invest heavily in the squad, persuading players from the level above to play for you by paying them high wages. This was what Wrexham did to get out of the National League.
@crawleysth With Wrexham it seemed (from the outside in) that they had an endless pit of money to throw at players/clubs so they could progress through the leagues as quick as possible. Alongside having the netflix series with a growing audience across the world and the famous owners in tow, anything other than promotions through the league would of been a disaster. Speaking hypothetically if they stay in the Championship for the next few years may interest/views begin to wean?
With us the next big step will be getting promotion to the NL and then becoming an established NL side. Buying Meadowbank off the Surrey FA and doing the relevant developments of the ground etc. Of course being in the Football League would be great but as a vision set out for the next 5-10 years I cant imagine that being a goal just yet. Hopefully the American investors are in this for the long run as it will be a total different project to Wrexhams which I am sure they are aware
I think Marc and the club have to appear ambitious to reach the EFL or the likes of Frank and Debra would put their energy and money into another club.
It certainly won't be dull for them!
What most American followers of the Wrexham story may be blind to is that whilst the club was stuck in non league for 13 years before Ryan Reynolds came along, they were previously a 2nd Division (Championship) club in the early 1980s, so what they have done is just return to a former level (equally Luton going from the National League to the Prem was a return to where they were until the early 1990s)
I agree that DW as a solid NL club is a realistic (whilst still ambitious) goal to aim for - if the likes of Boreham Wood and Solihull can crack it, why not us!
And having seen what was possible at Sutton United and now Bromley, I am not going to discourage Frank from aiming for the stars!
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Hopefully the Americans don't insist on half time shows I've just witnessed in the WC final. Absolute shambles!
Hopefully the Americans don't insist on half time shows I've just witnessed in the WC final. Absolute shambles!
Agreed, it should all be about the football. You don't have a 5 a side match during the interval of a music concert, so why the reverse!
Club Press Release
"Following collaborative discussions, Dorking Wanderers F.C. (DWFC) and Surrey Football Association (SFA) are pleased to jointly announce that we have reached an agreement in principle for Dorking Wanderers to take on the operating lease of Meadowbank Football Ground, subject to Council approval and contract............
Read more -
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Why this matters for us: taking on the lease means we'll finally have control over our own ground. That opens up a huge amount of opportunity for the Club, as you will imagine — we can develop the stadium on our terms, make much better use of it day-to-day, especially on matchdays, and really start benefiting more significantly and directly from historical and future investment in the things that make a difference: facilities, the matchday experience for fans, food and beverage etc. Whilst we have experienced a tangible positive turnaround in our relations with the SFA, it will also certainly benefit us to not have to work around the constraints of a ‘third party’. We will now get to shape Meadowbank into the home we want it to be — for the team, for supporters, and for the community. This is, as I am sure you will recognise, a massive step forward for the Club.
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
The point Marc is making about the extent of the stadium is that the boundary always used to be up to the northern and eastern footpaths, plus the woodland area to the rear (which until the 80s didn't even have all the trees on it
See plan below...
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Maybe the club will be able to sell stadium naming rights?
"Why would I leave to join a League Two club? We're going there anyway!" - Marc White
Will your son be allowed to have the drum now David 😂
@dorking-eagle Interesting stuff David. Looks like there was a large 'training area' behind the west (away) terrace too - presume that should be part of the boundary? Or would those trees now be an issue?
