MALVERN Rugby Club have called an open meeting to discuss measures that can be implemented to improve their precarious financial position.

Projections show the Spring Lane-based club are on track to suffer a loss this year, but steps are being taken to mitigate the scale of the problem and they will be discussed at the meeting, which takes place in the Spring Lane clubhouse on Wednesday, February 20 from 7.30pm.

The club are hoping to appoint a commercial business manager who would be tasked with sourcing extra funding to ease the situation.

Bill Pomeroy, Malvern’s honorary secretary, said: “The current financial situation is predicting a loss and we are putting measures in place to tackle that. We will be explaining to the members what we plan to do.

“We shall still suffer a loss this year, basically because the expenditure has been a bit over the top.

“It was in the budget we set, but the expected income streams haven’t quite come good.

“We are not going to go bankrupt tomorrow, but we need to sort out our income and expenditure.

“It is serious, though, and if we don’t do anything now, we will make a thumping loss. We will basically be cutting back on our expenditure.”

He added: “The switch to National Three South-West hasn’t helped the situation as we have a lot of long away trips, which can be expensive to book coaches for.

“The RFU help out with that, but do not cover all of the costs. If we were still in the Midlands division, it would not be so bad.”

Malvern officials will also be seeking nominations for the roles of chairman and director of rugby, which are currently vacant.

Peter Woods stepped down as chairman recently, while Liam Hughes resigned his director of rugby role earlier in the season due to not being able to dedicate the required time to the position.

Pomeroy added: “Peter resigned his role, but still helps out as press officer, so we need to put someone in place as a temporary chairman until the next annual meeting.

“The director of rugby position is not really a coaching job, it is more of an organisational role, but Liam tried to do both and found he couldn’t dedicate the time needed.

“The director of rugby takes an overview of all rugby from the senior team to the youngest junior side to make sure we are singing from the same hymn sheet as a club.”