WHITEHAWK chairman John Summers reckons changing the club’s name to Brighton City FC will help it become more sustainable.
The National League South side outlined their intentions this week, and are currently discussing the possible change with the Football Association.
They initially wanted to rebrand the club back in 2013 but the move was rejected, partly because of the involvement of championship club Brighton & Hove Albion.
However, the Hawks are trying again and Summers has outlined the reasons why he feels the move is crucial for the future of the club.
Some supporters of Whitehawk – who made it to the FA Cup second round this season – are against the proposal, however, and have gained over 1,200 signatures on an online petition.
“We have been discussing this as a club – the members, sponsors, fans – as well people that attend the matches,” Summers said.
“It has been in our business plan that we feel that we have been held back by the name, and that we feel that we are not embracing the city.
“Firstly, I am the chairman, so simply the spokesman of the club’s decisions and opinions. It has been well known that we aspire to be named after the city.
“All the changes the club has seen over the past few seasons – the great players, coaches and the maintenance of our ground all come at a cost. That cost has been covered by myself (50 per cent) and my partners, KSD (50 per cent) and our sponsors have also helped in terms of covering wages etc.
“However, the gates as they are at the moment will not even cover maintaining the ground, let alone anywhere near paying player’s wages, and the other huge amount of costs that the club pays out.
“The club is a County League club in terms of the number of personnel behind the scenes. It is supported by a handful of volunteers, and four key volunteers in particular along with a few others. We need to bring in new staff to help those who are already doing a fantastic job, and we need to up our game as a club.
“What concerns me at the moment is that if anything were to happen to me, Ned (McDonnell) or any of the other boys, and the club will be in a serious situation.
“As custodians of the club, we have a duty to create sustainability, and that sustainability is based upon a wider catchment area, and also overcome the constraints that the name has given us because it is no secret that a lot of people are aware of the negative connotations connected to Whitehawk.
“Once the FA Cup run was over, attendances fell back down to around the 300 mark, and with those figures we won’t go anywhere.”
