Having defeated EFL teams like Barrow, Stevenage and newly promoted Ipswich Town in the world-famous competition, the National League South club’s financial position is even more secure than before.
Joint-owners Terry Casey and Oliver Ash have been in charge since 2010. They took on a then homeless club and built what is now a 4,200 capacity National League grade stadium at the heart of Kent’s county town.
Since the Gallagher Stadium opened in 2012, the club have been profitable every season bar one, operating a sustainable business model using a 3G pitch to bring the local community into the club. Pitch hire and event management have been a significant source of revenue and have attracted new support to the football club.
The club have an extensive community structure with some 30 teams wearing the club badge, one of the south-east’s largest disability football set-ups, a growing women and girls’ section and a football academy based at the stadium. The men’s first team regularly attracts an attendance of between 2,500 and 3,000, while annual turnover in the past few years has been around £2 million.
Now, after 15 years in charge, the two business partners would like to attract new investment.
Commenting on this decision, Terry Casey said: “It is time to attract new investors who will care for the club’s supporters and staff and look to move forward sustainably. The business, despite the industry we’re in, is unusually sound. We have always strived to operate at a profit so as not to burden the club with debt or risk its future given its importance to so many people in the town.
“Our first objective is to find the right person or people to come in and lead the next chapter in our rich history. Meanwhile, we will continue to give our full attention to operating the club efficiently.”
Oliver Ash added: “Maidstone United means so much to us since we developed the stadium from scratch and put our hearts and souls into the project.
“If we find the right candidates we are prepared to consider the divestment of the club business together with its modern stadium, which is owned freehold. We are also open to divesting the club while retaining the freehold of the stadium. All options are currently open to discussion.”
- Any interested parties are invited to submit an expression of interest to the club secretary Ian Tucker by emailing: ian.tucker@maidstoneunited.co.uk.
