Scunthorpe United defend late cancellation of coach travel to Colchester United
THE Iron have defended the decision to cancel their coach travel for supporters to Saturday’s match at Colchester United just days before the game.
Having failed to fill half of the coach for the trip to the Weston Homes Community Stadium, Scunthorpe announced on Tuesday it would no longer be running and contacted each individual scheduled to travel to make them aware of the situation.
-
Iron general manager David Beeby
The move disappointed numerous Iron fans, who took to social network site Twitter to voice their disapproval, labelling the decision 'appalling' and 'outrageous'.
General manager David Beeby though said it had been taken because the club were not willing to make a loss on away travel - something which has happened on previous occasions this season.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
“We had to make a decision in the build-up to the game and as only a small number of people had booked, less than half of what would have filled the coach, we would not have broken even," he told the Telegraph.
“We have made losses on a number of coaches already this season and cannot keep running them at a loss.
“People will say ‘why don’t you book a minibus instead’, but the cost of the fuel and driver is the same so you don’t really make much of a saving.
“The demand for it just wasn’t there and we contacted each person that had booked individually to explain the decision."
Beeby explained that those supporters who were scheduled to travel on the coach and had bought match tickets would have them refunded.
He also said that anyone wishing to travel with the club away from home should book well in advance to try to ensure such scenarios did not occur again.
“We would advise anyone who wants a coach to run to book early, rather than leave it until the week before the game," he added.
Comments
by carllewis2010
Saturday, January 12 2013, 9:25PM
“Why could the club not ask our multi millionaire mr scunthorpe united to stump up a couple of hundred quid, so as not to let those supporters who had booked travel left high and dry .He could of added this to the loan until the hooper sell on money arrives.The contempt our current set up shows to our fans is insulting."UP THE IRON"!!!”
by Dmented
Saturday, January 12 2013, 5:22PM
“Pathetic. Just about sums up SUFC under the current regime.”
by Gubbins
Friday, January 11 2013, 8:07PM
“This story really does just sum up how little they're prepared to do to keep people attending. It's the loyal fans like the ones who'd bought tickets for this coach who are feeling really undervalued right now, and IMO are the ones they should be doing their upmost to keep happy. With attendances being as poor as they are, and dropping every week, does it not make business sense to look after your best customers, even if it does mean losing the odd few quid occasionally?”
by Jacksaw
Friday, January 11 2013, 6:06PM
“Nothing else can surprise me about the running of the commercial department. The ticket office employ staff that look down at the customer and when challenged don't even realise that they work in a business.
Season ticket holders who used to be able to change unused tickets for another match are not able to, although they can swap them for "select" games. I bet there's only myself who knows which games are select, although the ticket staff did not have the answer.
As for the £265 that I paid for my season ticket, well Scunthorpe United, you won't be getting any more from me.
If they employed someone with some business sense and actively encouraged fans into Glanford Park then profits would rise along with the attendance figures.”
by delboyseven
Friday, January 11 2013, 5:54PM
“i gather that the coach was almost half full, almost at break even point. not rocket science, have the customary whip round then donate the proceeds to charity. altogether now”
by DFlated
Friday, January 11 2013, 5:49PM
“This beggars belief and only highlights as to what scant regard this regime has for the fans. The club, Beeby and Wharton should hold their heads in shame and perhaps being penny wise and pound foolish should have a look at why THEY threw away £4m of income two seasons ago.
The quicker we get rid of this shower who say they RUN a football club the better.”
by Blue_Jean
Friday, January 11 2013, 5:37PM
“If the club has decided to not do things that make a loss there are much bigger targets to aim at than the supporters coach.
Biting the hand that feeds you and all that..”
by scunnyexile
Friday, January 11 2013, 4:52PM
“The money saved will be donated to that charity that looks after donkeys.”