A MAJOR new initiative by Cowdenbeath fans goes by the moniker of ‘Roof Fall’. Simply put it is all about aiding Cowdenbeath FC both financially and in various other ways. The name Roof Fall very obviously derives from the club’s local mining heritage. It is being used essentially to draw an analogy between a roof fall in the pit and Cowdenbeath FC’s situation since 2010 - in both cases there is effectively a reliance on the local community to pull together to mount a rescue operation. In 2010 CFC and its fans were hit by this veritable roof fall following on from the sale of the club to the Brewster family in 2007.

Consider firstly: Cowdenbeath FC 2007, over £200,000 in the Bank, owning Central Park, the Stock Cars pay rent of £35,000 per year, weekly market pays rent of £15,000 per year, circus, shows, other events generate extra cash, Cowdenbeath FC pays no rent, the club benefits from its own bar and catering income plus also some of this from stock cars.

Then contrast this with Cowdenbeath FC 2015, Cowdenbeath has little by way of cash reserves and no bank support. Cowden don’t own the ground and pays a rent of £20,000 per year. Stock Cars pay the club nothing. Weekly market pays the club nothing. Circus/shows/other events pay nothing. Catering - Cowden receives a small fee per outlet. Bar is not very often in use. Loss of ownership of ground alone has cost CFC at least £70,000 per annum.

Director David Allan said, “Basically, CFC is a wholly fan run club and simply put Roof Fall is all about aiding Cowdenbeath FC both financially and in various other ways. “It is primarily designed to compensate for the change in the club’s financial situation since 2007. It is our club – no-one else is riding to the rescue or going to do the work and investment for us.

“It isn’t a one-season wonder –it is an ongoing commitment that will be necessary. “In the last five years, the club has been wholly controlled (but not owned) by its fans. Initial work was done by the Cowdenbeath Action Group with fans from that wider group going on to constitute the present board. “In that five year period the club has been able to survive, indeed thrive on the field to an extent, due to maintaining championship level status and gates/income for four out of these five years. In addition, this income has been propped up by significant donations and loans from fans - primarily the fans who became directors. This has been the club’s most successful period in generations”.

He added, “The loss of championship status now though means that Cowdenbeath FC’s situation has very much taken a turn for the worse again. “Income levels will sharply diminish and that core £70,000 reversal in the club’s financial fortunes highlighted above becomes correspondingly even more damaging. That is why the maintenance of Championship status was so important to the club as it was much easier to fund its fixed cost base and overall ongoing operations at that level. Rather than some imaginary cash bonanza those were the basic financial facts of life.   “In summary, Cowdenbeath FC has perhaps been left in a somewhat similar situation to clubs such as Hearts and Dunfermline, albeit for a different underlying reason and one that poses a multi-faceted challenge. “Since 2010, Cowdenbeath FC has been entirely dependent on its fanbase to fund and manage its operations and that absolutely remains the case to this day.

“In essence, Cowdenbeath fans have given their commitment to seek to remediate this £70,000 hit and indeed if they can to generate even more to provide core funding to our club. “There are 11 elements of success that should be kept in view at all times and also contrastingly there are 11 habits that make for losers to be avoided by us all. Keep these to the fore in your thoughts when supporting your club and playing your part.” Thus the Cowdenbeath FC 1st XI 2015/16 is: 1. Persistence, 2. Enthusiasm, 3 Co-operation, 4 Bounce-backability, 5. Gumption, 6. Proactivity, 7. Dedication, 8. Hard graft, 9. Ingenuity, 10. Loyalty, 11. Putting the club first. The XI granted free transfers from Central Park are: Bickering, 2. Prevaricating, 3. Huffs, 4. Agendas, 5. Personalities, 6. Pet theories, 7. Back of an envelope calculations, 8. Rumours, 9. Factions, 10. Leaving it to others, 11. Blame games.

Roof Fall is the overall name for an umbrella scheme which initially includes 4 elements: The Roof Fall Fund; The Blue Brazil Bonus Ball Bonanza Draw; Roof Fall Direct; Roof Fall Volunteers The key message to all fans is – Let’s cut to the chase – bottom line might be No Roof Fall = No Football! The 4 elements currently contained within Roof Fall are as follows: 1. The Roof Fall Fund Bank account set up and controlled by Supporters Council. Monthly donations (minimum of £20 per month or £240 per year). Lump sum donations – one offs, fundraisers, gifts, etc Holds all monies that are intended to be donated to help CFC. Package being developed of Roof Fall rewards but already includes for monthly or annual subscribers the following: Willie Nellies Memorial 50/50 draw in December where 50% of one month’s regular subscriptions will be the prize. 10% discount on merchandise at Central Park club shop Regular monthly prize draw with shares in CFC and/or matchday guest access for two people representing the Supporters Council in the CFC Boardroom as main prizes. 2. Blue Brazil Bonus Ball Bonanza Draw (or the B5 draw for short!) An additional and separate Prize Draw. Limited to 49 members. Members each subscribe £18.80 per month to ‘buy’ one number in the National Lottery. A prize of £x (c33% of monthly receipts) will be paid out every month based on the bonus ball that is drawn out in the last National Lottery Saturday draw each calendar month. If the ball drawn is not allocated to any member a rollover will ensue. The X’mas draw is the Blue Brazil Bonus Ball Bonanza Blockbuster Draw (or 6B for short) and pays out 66% rather than the normal 33%. Profits then channelled into Roof Fall Fund 3. Roof Fall Direct. Another aspect of Roof Fall funding is that Roof Fall is also credited as being responsible for any monies raised in certain categories of CFC’s budget beyond the figures shown in the opening baseline budget. This is known as Roof Fall Direct. Progress in this area will be shown by published metrics e.g.

A traffic light system, thermometer graphic or such. A contribution is registered once the starting figure for each metric is passed. The metrics being used are based on the following starting figures – Season Ticket Sales £13,000 SPFL 18 League Match gate money - £75,000; Sponsorship/advertising income - £16,500; Merchandise Profit - £2,000; Lottery Profit - £9,000; 50/50 Profit - £2,500; Hospitality Profit - £2,000; Sportsman’s Dinner profit - £4,500; 100 Club contribution - £11,000. Any other non budgeted cash contributions or costs savings will be identified and logged if attributable to Roof Fall. 4. Roof Fall Volunteers. Another great way to contribute to Roof Fall/CFC outwith the funding aspect is to volunteer. The club badly needs willing hands-on resource. A list of tasks that have to be undertaken at Central Park (usually on matchdays) is being made available.

Roof Fall – What is Target Performance? To cut to brass tacks – given the wage budget implemented as a result of this series of fan discussions/meetings the minimum contribution targeted and needed from Roof Fall (including Roof Fall Direct) is £70,000.

The optimum contribution level though would be as advised at meeting by CFC Chairman say (bearing in mind the vagaries of cashflow) £100,000. The methodology is that Funds will be regularly transferred to CFC to assist its cashflow Your Return on your Roof Fall Investment? Firstly – a Warning – ‘football clubs can go down as well as up’!

Added Mr Allan, “In essence Roof Fall investment involves for each and every one of the fans - the sweat from brows and the cash from pockets The actual return on that investment is the preservation of Cowdenbeath FC in our community as a senior football club. Success on the field if achieved though would be a nice bonus. “The Time for Action is Now. Very simply it is up to you and that applies to every single fan - the future of our 135 year old club lies in all our hands - young or old, well off or not so well off. “Join up - please play your part in Roof Fall and the Supporters Council.

“Always keep in view the 11 Elements of Success “The motto of the town of Cowdenbeath is a guiding light for our labours - ‘Stent nae Stent’ (Shirk no Task)”.