VICTORY at Wembley on Sunday is likely to be worth a staggering £700,000 to York City.
That is the figure City chairman Jason McGill believes awaits the winners of this season’s Blue Square Premier play-off final.
McGill added that even before a ball is kicked under the arch, City will already be guaranteed a £200,000 windfall, regardless of whether they can secure a mouth-watering return to the Football League.
He said: “You are probably looking at a net profit of £200,000 for reaching Wembley and between £400,000 and £500,000 if you go on to win promotion because of the central funding and money towards the youth team you would receive. The financial incentives are obviously massive.”
McGill, whose Malton-based JM Packaging company has invested £1 million in the club, also indicated any money raised from the final would be ploughed into next season’s squad.
He said: “Last season we invested the money in the team and that reaped its rewards. We would have to do the same again next season because this campaign and the previous one have shown that with a certain budget you will finish in a certain position if the money is spent wisely.
“Getting promoted also brings its own challenges. You could try and run the wage bill at Blue Square Premier level, but you would need to strengthen in certain areas.
“We would want to compete in League Two and not be fighting against relegation, as has been the case throughout the club’s history, bar a few enjoyable exceptions. We want to get out of that circle of being a bottom-half team and becoming a top-half outfit.”
Ahead of the biggest game during his tenure in the boardroom, McGill also paid tribute to the “brilliant” work of manager Martin Foyle and his assistant Andy Porter.
Having only avoided relegation on the penultimate fixture of last season, the pair have masterminded a play-off push this term.
An appreciative McGill said: “Martin and Andy have done a brilliant job and they are a great team.
“They spend four or five nights a week in York away from their families and are very, very dedicated.
“They are constantly scouting teams in our divisions, as well as those below and above us and have an eye for spotting potential footballers who can add value to York City.
“Martin’s coaching qualifications impressed us when we brought him to the club and he’s a good age. He can still show the players what to do on the training ground rather than telling them and the same applies to Andy.”
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