Poor crowds will affect us financially, warns Exiles boss

The Exiles boss caused a stir this week with his comments about 1,100 ‘missing’ fans when comparing the 3,600 crowd from the opening day defeat against Wycombe Wanderers to the 2,500 who watched Tuesday night’s 1-0 win over Southend United.

The club’s budget for the season is based on an average attendance of 3,300 and Edinburgh has warned that there may have to be sacrifices in terms of signing players if crowds don’t pick up.

“We set the budget on averaging 3,300 and we’re not there at the moment,” he said. “That will affect us in the short, medium and long-term.

“That was below our average for last season and if we continue to not hit our target then we might have to reassess things this season as well as beyond.

“I understand that it’s not cheap but I was asked a question and I gave an honest answer,” he added.

“I understand we lost the first game of the season but I don’t think anyone can be judged on one game and since then our home form has been very good.

“I can concentrate on the positives – that we’ve now got a hard core of 2,500 people.

“When I first came we had 800 or 900 for my first game against Southport.

“I’m absolutely delighted with where the club’s come from and what we’re building but I still can’t see where the floating fans have gone.

“I could see it if there were 300 or 400 floating but not 1,100.”

Edinburgh gave the thumbs up to the £10 offer for the north terrace for tomorrow’s home clash with Accrington Stanley but warned that the club can’t rely solely on the money of Euromillions lottery-winner chairman Les Scadding.

“People look in from the outside at Les and think it’s a bottomless pit,” he said.

“Les puts money in but it isn’t an open cheque book by any means.

“We must not become complacent as a football club. We must continue to strive to improve and if that means putting offers and deals out there to try to attract people then that’s what we have to look at.”