HAVERFORDWEST COUNTY A.F.C.

I took over Chairmanship of Haverfordwest County AFC four years ago, and our teams have been thriving ever since. Haverfordwest AFC is a Cymru Premier team, fighting for a chance to play in the UEFA Champions League, and recently qualified for the European Playoffs. We currently have a Mens’ team and a Boys’ Under 19s team. Our current projects involve expanding our academy to really hone the skills of our current players, as well as expanding to both Womens’ and Girls’ teams.

We secured a return to the Cymru Premier for the 2020-2021 season, and we’ve doggedly held on to our position since. Our teams enjoy success, and the Bluebirds are aiming to keep soaring with some support from Crowd2Fund. We’re planning some expansions which should increase our revenue streams and allow for further development of the team and opportunities in Haverfordwest. My background as a finance professional places me well to lead the team in these exciting new challenges, as I hope to make sure that the Bluebirds have the backing they need to achieve their best, and continue contributing to the Beautiful Game.

Our planned expansions are born from a clear demand presented in our local area. We’re excited to tap into this, as it is a fantastic opportunity for growth. After the sprawling to stardom of local Welsh club Wrexham due to some celebrity interest and backing, it’s clear that Welsh football is a great place for investment and growth, as well as a fantastic source of entertainment. Competitions come and go, but football endures. Teams endure. Haverfordwest County AFC aspires to be a club you start at young, and go on to a successful career in football. Good footballers aren’t born, they’re made. Made in clubs like us.

Credit commentary:
The directors Robert Edwards ,Mared Pemberton and Julian Furne are providing a personal guarantee, which means should the business fail and have insufficient assets within the business to repay the loan, we can look to the guarantor(s) to repay any shortfall on repayment. Additionally, the business is offering a debenture to secure the repayment of the loan.There have been no CCJs for the business or director. The Equifax score and grade, which we use to assess risk, are based on the 2023 accounts. The financial statements for the company, prepared by a reputable accounting firm, confirm the accuracy of the reported figures. The company’s total EBITDA stands at £15K, while their MI is reported at £17K. There has been a significant increase in turnover, which has surged by 110% from 2022 to 2023. The TNW has also shown positive growth, reaching £46K, providing a substantial asset base to secure borrowing facilities. Notably, there has been an increase in the directors’ salaries over the years. Furthermore, the net cash from financing activities has increased significantly, from £12,086 in 2022 to £28,004 in 2023. Bank statements from recent months demonstrate a consistent and positive cash flow, with June’s average balance remaining in the three-figure range, and the company operates without an overdraft facility. The Debt Service Coverage ratio is 1.86, and the net gearing ratio is 49%, indicating a moderate level of financial risk. The company maintains a stable creditor-days ratio of 1000 days, demonstrating its ability to manage creditor payments effectively.

Inflation Risk:
The drop in inflation from 4 per cent to 3.4 per cent in February has been welcomed by business leaders in Wales. The football team has announced that inflation will not impact ticket sales for football games.” Since the majority of lending to the business is at a fixed rate, they will not be immediately affected by interest rate increases.