Clever economic move by Cowling...... The production cost of 500 or 5,000 programmes will be similar. The only difference is the trivial cost of extra paper. My guess is with prevailing sales of (say) 500 the club loses money. Simply compare the typical price of £3 with the cost of any retail magazine. Most clubs in Division One/Two probably lose considerable money. The EFL is currently debating a rule that programmes MUST be produced. My guess is that the U's and many other clubs would pull the plug on production if it could. However, to appease the few, that still collect programmes,, the EFL will probable favour continuance. So WHCS faces a dilemma. Selling 500 programmes at £3 generates £1,500 revenue. But an extra £1 on 3,000 tickets generates £3,000. So now the cost of programmes is covered even if gates are lower than last season's average. Frankly, I suspect stopping programme production would have caused more negative comment from die hard fans than this. So it is perhaps the lesser of two evils in a no win situation. Sadly, my free programme will end up in a recycle bin before leaving the ground and I find that a shameful waste of trees. But convincing the collectors that on-line production only is the eco-friendly way forward won't happen this year....but maybe next.....? | |