I'd win big on the Euromillions, I'd buy EP and County.
Put money into developing income streams for the club, make EP a real 24-7 365 type of place. Do sympathetic ground changes -looking at safe standing, putting a roof on the railway End etc...
I'd look to develop new pricing that had cheap categories not only for the one's we already cater for but also Leisure Key holders, and those from elsewhere in receipt of unemployment benefit or other income based disability/sickness benefit.
I'd put money into massively vamping up County in the Community both in terms of going to schools and giving talks/giving out tickets like in the 90's and also in terms of the football activity weeks they do across the borough - make County THE go to club for that sort of thing across the whole of the borough and surrounding area. I'd also extend it to include youth clubs, scout and girl guide groups and go out to areas of the community we don't go to so much now, churches, mosques, synagogues etc..
For new income streams I'd be tempted to build a new training ground/sports facility somewhere around Adswood/Bridgehall in the style of Woodley Sports complex.
I'd sponsor and pay for new Welcome road signs at every single border point across the borough saying
"Welcome to Stockport Metropolitan Borough, Proud home of Stockport County F.C.
Next Home Game v Whoever Saturday WheneverTH 3pm
Tickets available at
www.stockportcounty.com or 0161 333 9999*"
*or whatever phone number.
All the platform signs at Stockport train station would also be sponsored.
We'd get a very healthy playing budget.
I'd also push for us to become more green and eco friendly, - look at greywater recycling systems in place to get water to water the pitch, flush toilets, use in the dishwashers and washing machines behind the scenes. Look at the possibility of wind or photo-voltaic panels to generate electricity and if that was more profitable use of roof space than advertising.
I'd revamp the menu getting microbreweries and places like Lord of The Pies in. I'd try and include healthy options like soups, and little apple bags alongside the crisps and chocolate. I'd replace mashed potato with french fries (less messy to eat) and if it was possible without the range being too big I'd try to cover dietary and cultural bases amongst the food including vegetarian, vegan, halal, kosher, gluten free/dairy free etc... Also if it wasn't too expensive try and have different seasonal foods - Eid curries, black history month - chicken and rice, christmas mince pies and mulled wine etc...
I'd look in introduce dialogue between County and all interested parties ongoing over various issues that affect us and them - like local residents, local businesses, neighbourhood police, local councillors etc...
I'd look to sponsor/subside public transport across the borough so it would be cheaper and could even be inclusive of match-ticket. Or at the least look to encourage greater use of public transport, walking, cycling to games. I'd even see about extending the town centre shuttle bus up to EP on matchdays.
I'd look to get a presence in the town centre in terms of a club shop/ticket office - with space rented out to other companies/shops.
I'd also look into what teams like Accrington have done in buying a pub. Maybe the place that is now a coffee shop on the corner of Castle Street, turn it into a real County hub.
Further afield I'd look to work with students in terms of work experience, joint initiatives and ticket initiatives both in Stockport College and the universities in Manchester - we have extremely good transport links to Manchester and there is a massive student population plenty of whom love football - why not interact with that? Especially as lots of them do settle in and around Manchester and particularly the south of the city/Stockport - and may in time pass on a passing affection for County to their children who may become fully-fledged County fans.
Similarly I'd look into aiming for various equal rights status, Disability Plus ticks, Stonewall etc... and would look to actively engage with the gay community of Manchester for similar reasons. Plenty of gay people come to Manchester purely because it has probably the biggest gay community and spirit outside of London. It's the gay mecca of the north. Plenty of those people will like football, and without being stereotypical plenty of those people will have a reasonable amount of disposable wealth and will likely live in the southern suburbs of the city, or in places like Stockport/Trafford.
I'd generally aim to become family and community friendly. Make using or going to County as much part of the general life of people as going to the library or using the swimming baths. Nobody decides not to do those things because they're white, black, Chinese, Pakistani, Polish, disabled, gay, Muslim, Jewish, Straight, old, young.
I'd want community projects and inclusion that covers all those groups - including things like the bingo afternoons we used to do for old folk.
I'd copy some of what people like FCUM have done working with newer European immigrants - and their musical entertainment from local/unsigned bands before/after games.
As we progressed up the leagues EP would be extended as needed. To become 15k then possibly 20k if neccessary.
I'd double the efforts in terms of youth football development/youth teams.
Certain people and positions would be reemployed - the like of Bellis and Brennan for example.
I'd make sure there was lots people could buy or use in terms of services or merchandise if they wanted - but that none of that would be neccessary or compulsory to support County.
I'd look to facilitate to away games for all and to home games for exiled fans. I'd encourage and develop fan roadshows and supporters club branches.
I'd make us a constant part of the community - always at community events, fairs, tombolas, always in the paper for good things.
The aim would eventually be to become self-sufficient and to run at a profit, whilst climbing up the league, so I could reduce my ongoing investment to zero eventually.
If and when we reach profitability and self-sufficiency, whilst being at the very very least yo-yo between the Championship and League 1 - if not an established Championship club with crowds in the 10k-15k mark; I would then seek to offload the club to a Supporters CO-OP/Trust - Including paying for advertising for said Trust to increase membership and make people aware of what is going on - to give the club back to those who really own it - the fans. I'd also look to give the ground back to the fans but possibly get the council involved to ensure if couldn't be sold from under us.