Dons turnover up as stadium move looms

Last updated : 05 November 2016 By Press and Journal

The club released its annual report today, showing the Dons achieved a record turnover during the 2015-16 season.

The Dons, who finished second in the Scottish Premiership and reached the third qualifying round of the Europa League but made early exits from both domestic cup competitions, enjoyed an increased turnover of £337,000 from £13.077million to £13.414million for the year ending June 30, 2016.

The club’s wages increased from £6.644million to £6.817million, while the wages to turnover ratio was maintained at 51%.

Aberdeen’s operating profit fell from £542,000 in 2015 to £448,000, while the average crowd at Pittodrie dropped from 12,750 to 12,360.

The club’s annual meeting will take place at Pittodrie on Monday, November 28, at 7pm.

Milne believes the Dons are in a firm position financially and said the club intends to lodge a full planning application for a new stadium at Kingsford, near Westhill, by the end of the year.

Milne said: “We have now completed the opening round of public consultations and, while there are specific issues to be addressed in relation to traffic management, there is also widespread support across various supporters’ groups for the Kingsford site.

“Subject to planning consent being obtained, the proposed site layout will feature much-needed training, community and youth academy facilities. The final stadium design will incorporate many of the features being proposed in feedback received from supporters, and as part of the detailed consultation process that was undertaken in July this year.

“The club and the project team are progressing with the detailed design ahead of the final planning application being submitted. In parallel with this work, the club is visiting various other stadiums in the UK and northern Europe to assess facilities at other clubs with the ultimate aim of the club, its supporters, players and staff with a modern facility we and the community can be justifiably proud of.”

Milne, however, stressed it will take a huge amount of work to turn the Dons’ ambitions for a new stadium into a reality.

He said: “There are significant challenges ahead, not least in the raising of the funds that will be required to deliver the project.

“The fact that we have continued to make progress, both on and off the field of play, without a permanent training base and with accommodation that is simply not fit for purpose in the 21st century, is quite remarkable. It demonstrates what great potential there is for this club if we were operating on a level playingfield with the competition.

“Derek McInnes and his team continue to improve the squad, season on season, and this month we have another chance of silverware when we play Celtic in the Betfred Cup final at Hampden.

“There are real challenges to overcome and to do so, we require everyone’s support. If we can maintain the momentum on the playing front and build our average home attendance that will greatly assist in raising the finances that can deliver the much needed facilities that can take our club to new levels.”