Play-off pledge may cost Sittingbourne chief £6,000

By John Lyons
Sittingbourne commercial director Andrew Marjeram is happy to put his money where his mouth is – even if it ends up costing him £6,000!
With Covid-19 causing severe financial strain up and down the land, Non-League clubs have been looking for new ways to bring in vital revenue.
And Brickies board member Marjeram is hoping his innovative plan can bear fruit.
The idea is a simple one: if 300 or more new individuals register for the club’s lottery by the end of June AND the Brickies don’t make the play-offs next term, he will shell out £20 to each one of them at the end of the season.
They will have to make a big improvement to reach the play-offs – they were 16th in the Isthmian South East Division when the current season ended.
The lottery has around 400 members at present, so it is going to take a mammoth effort to add 300 more in a short space of time, but Marjeram insists he’s willing to personally pick up the tab if the conditions are met.
“I’ve backed my instinct really and we’ll give it a go,” he said. “The lottery has been going for a number of years, but this is a way to freshen it up.
“A few people have said they haven’t heard of an idea like this before so hopefully it will attract interest not just from Sittingbourne fans.
“It’s a bit of fun and hopefully they might win some prize money along the way.
“If it goes well, then hopefully it will raise money for the club and mean the squad will be better.
“I sponsor the club through my recruitment firm and I’ve said I will pay the money if it comes to it. We’ve had a good response so far and if I have to pay out, I will be more than happy.”
For more, see http://www.kentmcl.co.uk.