Walsalls Police costs

Mike Woods in the express and star today has published an article about police costs in the Midlands.

Not suprising that Aston Villa spent most last season a staggering £347,020 compared with Walsall’s £26,491. However a close look at the reasons behind the cost show that a well run club can drastically reduce policing costs.

Roy Whalley has a close relationship with the Police and at the begining of each season they have a meeting to decide the general Police requirements. Last season only five matches required an in ground police presence. The major reason for this is Walsall has built up a pool of one hundred stewards the club are happy to call upon. Walsall have worked hard to get such an effective and efficient system in place, perhaps Hereford should take note.

It is interesting to note whilst clubs such as Villa Wolves and Albion have had expensive games costing £83,000 £30,000 and 35,000 Walsall highest police bill is £13,315 for the visit of Man City in 2001/02. The cheapest bill we have had to pay was £750 for the visit of Stockport in the same season.

These extra costs are the price for championship football, also it is clear the costs of policing have also increased.

However credit where credit is due tight control of these costs has a direct bearing upon the profitability of the club and hence our attractiveness to investors as well as increasing what can be spent elsewhere like the playing side.