Approximately 50 supporters met with Ivor Arbiter and Dave Bedford this evening to discuss recent events at the club. It was felt to have been an excellent meeting, with everyone feeling that both Ivor and Dave were honest and upfront in answering the questions put to them. A brief rundown of what was discussed follows. We apologise if anything has inadvertently been left out.

Regarding the decision to pull out of Conference South, it was felt by the board that it was not the time to get involved in Conference South, and that we would regroup in the Ryman League, get the Copthall move completed and then move forward. Last season the gate receipts only covered 20 percent of the playing budget, a level that could not be sustained at any level, let alone in Conference South.

The move to Copthall was discussed, and the reason for the delay was due to the fact that the planning meeting regarding the development of Claremont Road hasn't yet taken place. It is due to take place in a few weeks time, and should everything go to plan, we could be playing at Copthall as soon as October. Once the move is completed, the board would be able to establish the club at Copthall. The stadium will be run by a charitable trust, which will be made up of representatives of Hendon Football Club and Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers and the trust will have a 25 year lease, just paying a peppercorn rent to Barnet Council.

The advantage of moving to Copthall is that it would become a multisport facility, which makes it much easier to obtain grants from authorities such as the Sports Council to help with future development. It was also pointed out that the Banqueting Suite and clubhouse at Claremont Road only just broke even, and had not made any financial contribution to the club for sometime. Also sorting the stadium at Claremont Road out would cost something in the region of £1.5million

With regard to next season, the ambition is to try and win the Isthmian League, but only at a price that we can afford. It was felt by the board that the restructuring this summer was going to make it more difficult for clubs to survive. Whether the club decides to go up next summer should we be in a position to do so, would be decided nearer the time.

Crucial to the club moving upwards in the future is getting more bodies through the turnstiles, something that it was agreed is easier said than done. The club are looking for ideas on how we can do this - if each supporter brought one or two friends to each game, it would make a considerable difference to the gate receipts.

In conclusion, the general message was that the club must play at a level that it can afford, and that the club had taken a step back so that it could move forward in a stronger position in the future.