Gloucester Braced For Financial Loss

Gloucester Rugby is set to show a financial loss for last season, managing director Ken Nottage has revealed.

The news is a contrast to the 2007-08 season when Gloucester were the only Premiership club to make a profit.

Nottage stated: ‘We are technically still in a recession and the areas that were hit most were attendances and the corporate market.

‘At best the year to May 31 will be a break even position, but it’s more likely to be a small loss.’

During 2007-08 the opening of the club’s new main stand increased capacity by more than a third, helping Gloucester to make a profit of about £650,000.

However last season they were knocked out of the Heineken Cup in the pool stages and Nottage said that had a significant impact.

He also admitted the club would not look to develop the Shed side of the ground until attendances improved.
The first clash of the new season against local rivals Bath attracted a crowd of just under 13,000 – more than 3,000 short of Kingsholm’s capacity.

‘We need to be seeing six or seven sell-outs a season before there is a demand to develop further,’ added Nottage.

‘Arguably, it’s down to the fans. When the demand is demonstrated, we’ll be ready to develop the stadium.’