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Emma Beaugeard has explained how Wanderers turned around their kit release in double quick time to try and say thanks to the fans.
Released before Monday’s televised draw against Blackpool, the new home shirt has had a mixed reaction from the public, but that did not stop stock selling out within a few hours of release.
By yesterday the club reported that more than 400 shirts had now been bought, with a new away kit planned for launch later this month.
After initially wearing an unsponsored kit made by Hummel, which was not available to purchase, the club unveiled a bespoke new design created by Leeds-based Infinity Apparel.
Priced at £35 for adults and £30 for juniors, the shirt carries new sponsors Home Bargains and an embroidered logo to commemorate the year Wanderers took their modern name after initially forming as Christchurch FC.
Getting the new kit turned around a little more than a month after the Football Ventures consortium completed their takeover proved a challenge, explained CEO Beaugeard.
“A new kit would ordinarily take a club four to six months to organise but we had four weeks,” she said.
“We wanted to do something that gave the kit back to the club, back to the people and back to the fans.
“It is an exclusive kit, has the established 1877 to remind people of the history, and affordable to say thank you to the fans for all the turmoil to date.”
Practically, there was an immediate need to bring in new team-wear for the first team, who had been surviving on limited supplies since the summer.
The kit was just one of several big issues that had to be addressed by the new owners, who had little time to acclimatise when they took the club out of administration.
Beaugeard had plenty of experience in project management and business development working as a chief operating officer for Sharon Brittan and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason in the past – but she admits the ‘to do’ list for the consortium since it arrived has been considerable.
“Every single one has been a massive challenge so whatever I brought here in experience from my previous business life prior has played a part but it has still been a steep learning curve,” Beaugeard admitted.
“Recruiting the managers was pivotal, we needed to get those first and in control of the players we signed. I have to say Keith (Hill) and Dave (Flitcroft) – I don’t know if they thought they’d get the job definitely or not – but if we searched the country I don’t think we could have found a better pair.
“They were prepared, they were planned and two days in that war room they got it done.”
Asked what convinced Football Ventures to get involved at Wanderers, Beaugeard told Sky Sports: “It has got an amazing history, the people, the fanbase, the infrastructure, the potential more than anything, and Sharon’s desire if she were to get a football club for it to be in the North West of England so this club fit the bill perfectly.
“Everyone at Football Ventures sees this as a privilege, a privilege to be here. We are custodians, we don’t feel like we are owners. We are aware of how important this club is to the town, to the community as a whole, and we have no intention but doing right by this club for as long as we possibly can.”
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Released before Monday’s televised draw against Blackpool, the new home shirt has had a mixed reaction from the public, but that did not stop stock selling out within a few hours of release.
By yesterday the club reported that more than 400 shirts had now been bought, with a new away kit planned for launch later this month.
After initially wearing an unsponsored kit made by Hummel, which was not available to purchase, the club unveiled a bespoke new design created by Leeds-based Infinity Apparel.
Priced at £35 for adults and £30 for juniors, the shirt carries new sponsors Home Bargains and an embroidered logo to commemorate the year Wanderers took their modern name after initially forming as Christchurch FC.
Getting the new kit turned around a little more than a month after the Football Ventures consortium completed their takeover proved a challenge, explained CEO Beaugeard.
“A new kit would ordinarily take a club four to six months to organise but we had four weeks,” she said.
“We wanted to do something that gave the kit back to the club, back to the people and back to the fans.
“It is an exclusive kit, has the established 1877 to remind people of the history, and affordable to say thank you to the fans for all the turmoil to date.”
Practically, there was an immediate need to bring in new team-wear for the first team, who had been surviving on limited supplies since the summer.
The kit was just one of several big issues that had to be addressed by the new owners, who had little time to acclimatise when they took the club out of administration.
Beaugeard had plenty of experience in project management and business development working as a chief operating officer for Sharon Brittan and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason in the past – but she admits the ‘to do’ list for the consortium since it arrived has been considerable.
“Every single one has been a massive challenge so whatever I brought here in experience from my previous business life prior has played a part but it has still been a steep learning curve,” Beaugeard admitted.
“Recruiting the managers was pivotal, we needed to get those first and in control of the players we signed. I have to say Keith (Hill) and Dave (Flitcroft) – I don’t know if they thought they’d get the job definitely or not – but if we searched the country I don’t think we could have found a better pair.
“They were prepared, they were planned and two days in that war room they got it done.”
Asked what convinced Football Ventures to get involved at Wanderers, Beaugeard told Sky Sports: “It has got an amazing history, the people, the fanbase, the infrastructure, the potential more than anything, and Sharon’s desire if she were to get a football club for it to be in the North West of England so this club fit the bill perfectly.
“Everyone at Football Ventures sees this as a privilege, a privilege to be here. We are custodians, we don’t feel like we are owners. We are aware of how important this club is to the town, to the community as a whole, and we have no intention but doing right by this club for as long as we possibly can.”
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